[CW] Diminishing returns when learning morse - NO! , you are not practicing properly!!

[Sherrill Watkins]

Dear Cecil and members of the CW reflector: My experience with learning CW
proved that it takes quite a lot of time, effort and struggle to learn the
code and it is certanly not an easy task. So if you are having trouble
learning, WELCOME TO THE FRATERNITY. Everyone had a lot of trouble learning
at first! Learning morse is a very similar experience to learning to
touchtype or to swim or to hit a baseball!! Talking about how hard it is or
short term memory problem does not help you to learn! This is a normal
reaction because most people don't realize that it is a challenge, just like
learning to touchtype or hit a baseball or play any sport well; it takes a
considerable amount of practice and WORK! Also, it is very important that you
practice copying code without thinking about what you are doing! Learning
code is NOT like trying to learn to work an algebra problem! You cannot stop
to think! If you pause to think about a character, that clearly shows you
have not sufficiently practiced (learned by pure repetative drill)the
character, so just keep practicing! At no time can you pause to think about
what you are doing!! JUST KEEP WRITING WHAT YOU HEAR! As an example, when I
am typing on this key board, I am not thinking about where each letter key is
located. My total drill practice has conditioned my brain and fingers to
automatically react to the code chacters without thinking!  My mind instantly
reacts about where the key is located. I do not pause to think! The exact
same applies to playing sports or copying CW. Copying CW is NOT an esoteric
activity! You cannot pause to try to remember! If you have to pause to think
about what you are doing, YOU ARE DEAD and you will screw-up! If your short
term memory cannot remember the characters, that is simply an indication you
have not put in the proper repetative drill time over a long enough time
span( many days, weeks and months) to properly learn morse and have it
drilled into your subconcious brain. Learning code properly is simply a
matter of time devoted to repetative drill; either by writing it with a
pencil;or using a typewriter at high speed. Unfortunately, I never learned
how to copy using a typewriter and really admire those that can do that
wonderful skill. One of the best ways to learn is to get one of those
computer programs that send code at the speed you select. Start at at speed
you can comfortably copy and gradually increase speed. Do NOT WORRY if you
miss characters; just keep writing down what you hear. Try to spend at least
one hour per day; EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! NEVER LET A DAY GO BY WITHOUT AT
LEAST 20 MINUTES OF PRACTICE. At first, break this one hour up into three 20
minute sessions. When you are first learning the code, it is VERY
FRUSTRATING. THIS IS N0RMAL; so don't feel like "I can't learn" or " I have a
learning handicap" or any of that crap! Also, I have found that another very
good way to practice code is to get a code practice oscillator with a speaker
and a straight key and put it on the front seat of your car. When you are
driving down the road, start sending words or numbers you see like street
names, highway numbers, license plate numbers, signs,etc. After a just a few
weeks, you will be amazed how much only 20 minutes per day of sending license
plate numbers and letters will help your code! Sometimes I do this when
driving to work and going home. Also, my wife who is a schoolteacher, tells
me that most people have obtained about 99 percent of their total knowledge
through reading books and observing with their eyes, not listening with their
ears! From her comments, I believe that a part of the initial learning
problem is that humans basically don't like to listen and have to "reprogram
their brain" to learn code because it is a 100 percent sound learning
exercise. Don't worry about short term memory! That only shows that you have
not developed it! It will quickly start to develop when you start to learn
the code properly and DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED; the beginning part is the
hardest! I appologise for the length of this post.- 73- Sherrill W. k4own.  
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Cecil Bayona
KD5NWA 


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