Bombing Out Of Tafe

Bombing Out of TAFE Bombing Out of TAFE

Bombing OutBombing Out

Bombing out TAFE, or getting worse than Bombing out TAFE, or getting worse than expected results, can be stressful, especially if expected results, can be stressful, especially if you've previously averaged higher marks, or are you've previously averaged higher marks, or are depending on high results to get into a particular depending on high results to get into a particular course or profession. course or profession.

It might feel like everyone except you is doing It might feel like everyone except you is doing well at TAFE and headed for uni, or that well at TAFE and headed for uni, or that everyone else is passing. everyone else is passing.

Try to remember that everybody's  learning and Try to remember that everybody's  learning and working style is different and we all work working style is different and we all work through things at our own pace. through things at our own pace. 

Why you Might be Bombing Out of Why you Might be Bombing Out of TAFETAFE

Sometimes the reason why you are bombing out Sometimes the reason why you are bombing out or getting worse than expected results might be or getting worse than expected results might be obvious, while at other times it might be for obvious, while at other times it might be for reasons you hadn't considered.reasons you hadn't considered.

Some reasons might beSome reasons might be

Increase in workload Increase in workload Poor study habits or organisation - not enough time Poor study habits or organisation - not enough time

spent studying, especially common if you moved spent studying, especially common if you moved from the highly structured environment of high from the highly structured environment of high school to more relaxed Tafe environment school to more relaxed Tafe environment

Unrealistic expectations Unrealistic expectations Lacking the motivation to study Lacking the motivation to study Illness - physical or emotional problems Illness - physical or emotional problems Family or relationship problems Family or relationship problems High stress levels related to study High stress levels related to study Poor attendance at classes Poor attendance at classes The way material is being taught is not best suited The way material is being taught is not best suited

to your learning styleto your learning style

How Bombing out Might Affect youHow Bombing out Might Affect you

OverwhelmedOverwhelmed Surprised or disappointed, particularly if you've worked Surprised or disappointed, particularly if you've worked

hard and/or previously received higher markshard and/or previously received higher marks

Stressed or anxiousStressed or anxious Annoyed and frustrated at yourself or othersAnnoyed and frustrated at yourself or others Down or depressedDown or depressed Hopeless or as if you want to give upHopeless or as if you want to give up A sense of regret, shame or failureA sense of regret, shame or failure

Physical EffectPhysical Effect

Feel physically sick, including headaches or Feel physically sick, including headaches or migrainesmigraines

    Find it hard to concentrate Find it hard to concentrate

Sleep too much or not enoughSleep too much or not enough

Affect other parts of your life Affect other parts of your life tootoo

You might find you're not able to enjoy the You might find you're not able to enjoy the things you normally would. things you normally would.

You might also feel more likely to abuse You might also feel more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol as a way to escape or numb drugs or alcohol as a way to escape or numb overwhelming feelings.overwhelming feelings.

Tips for Managing the SituationTips for Managing the Situation

If you are failing or not performing as well as If you are failing or not performing as well as expected at TAFE, there are a range of things you expected at TAFE, there are a range of things you can do.can do.

Talk to your Talk to your Teacher/Lecturer/TutorTeacher/Lecturer/Tutor

Explain that you are having difficulty Explain that you are having difficulty completing/handing in the work. If they are completing/handing in the work. If they are not given a reason to explain a poor not given a reason to explain a poor performance on an exam or assessment, performance on an exam or assessment, they have no choice but to give you a bad they have no choice but to give you a bad mark.mark.

However, if you speak with them about what However, if you speak with them about what

the problem may be, they will be more the problem may be, they will be more inclined to organise help/extra time/special inclined to organise help/extra time/special consideration.consideration.

GetGet Extra Help to Understand Extra Help to Understand the Course Contentthe Course Content

If you are finding the course tough, you may be If you are finding the course tough, you may be able to get a tutor to help you understand the able to get a tutor to help you understand the subject content. subject content.

This might be a subject tutor/teacher, a friend who This might be a subject tutor/teacher, a friend who is doing well or someone from the study skills is doing well or someone from the study skills centre at TAFE.centre at TAFE.

Get OrganisedGet Organised

If you are finding it hard to stay on top of If you are finding it hard to stay on top of your studying it may help to work out a study your studying it may help to work out a study plan so you can balance your subject load plan so you can balance your subject load and other commitments - it can make a and other commitments - it can make a significant difference in how productive you significant difference in how productive you are.are.

Your teacher, tutor or school counsellor Your teacher, tutor or school counsellor

should be able to help you create a plan.should be able to help you create a plan.

Reassess your Subject Reassess your Subject ChoicesChoices

It you are not enjoying the content of your It you are not enjoying the content of your subject it might be hard to stay focussed.subject it might be hard to stay focussed.

Sometimes your subject might be Sometimes your subject might be compulsory and you just have to stick it out compulsory and you just have to stick it out but it may be possible for you to change to but it may be possible for you to change to something that you find more interesting. something that you find more interesting.

Challenge and Reset your Challenge and Reset your ExpectationsExpectations

Sometimes it can be helpful to re-think your Sometimes it can be helpful to re-think your own expectations. own expectations.

This may help you decide if they are This may help you decide if they are achievable for you. achievable for you.

A useful question to ask might be 'What A useful question to ask might be 'What would I suggest to a friend in this situation?would I suggest to a friend in this situation?

Have a Range of Options for the Have a Range of Options for the FutureFuture

Sometimes expectations are only focused on one Sometimes expectations are only focused on one outcome and if you don't meet it you might feel outcome and if you don't meet it you might feel disappointed or that you have failed.disappointed or that you have failed.

Usually there are a number of ways to achieve a Usually there are a number of ways to achieve a

goal.goal. Other options that you may be better suited to Other options that you may be better suited to

could be short courses, or even doing one or two could be short courses, or even doing one or two subjects at TAFE instead of a full time load.subjects at TAFE instead of a full time load.

Just because you aren't getting the grades you Just because you aren't getting the grades you would like doesn't mean that education is not for would like doesn't mean that education is not for you.you.

Get to Know your Learning Get to Know your Learning StyleStyle

Learning styles are characteristics that refer to how Learning styles are characteristics that refer to how you approach learning tasks and process you approach learning tasks and process information. information.

Everybody has different learning styles and no one Everybody has different learning styles and no one style is right or wrong.style is right or wrong.

It might be that the way subjects are being taught It might be that the way subjects are being taught

at TAFE are not best suited to your learning style. at TAFE are not best suited to your learning style.

Knowing your style might help you to take Knowing your style might help you to take advantage of it when you study and help you to advantage of it when you study and help you to improve your TAFE results.improve your TAFE results.

Get Some Head Space/Chill Get Some Head Space/Chill OutOut

Sometimes getting some head space and a Sometimes getting some head space and a change of scenery can be helpful - it's change of scenery can be helpful - it's important to give yourself permission to do important to give yourself permission to do this regularly. this regularly.

This might include going for a walk or This might include going for a walk or listening to your favourite music, reading a listening to your favourite music, reading a book, going to the movies - whatever works book, going to the movies - whatever works for you. for you.

Don't Give up Keep it in Don't Give up Keep it in PerspectivePerspective

Getting less marks than you hoped for does Getting less marks than you hoped for does not mean you are a failure or a bad person, not mean you are a failure or a bad person, but rather that you might benefit from but rather that you might benefit from improved study habits or reassessing your improved study habits or reassessing your choices. choices.

It doesn't necessarily mean that you'd be It doesn't necessarily mean that you'd be better off giving up entirely.better off giving up entirely.

Look After YourselfLook After Yourself

It's important to take time out by doing something It's important to take time out by doing something that you usually enjoy.that you usually enjoy.

Even though you might not feel like it or have Even though you might not feel like it or have time, exercising and eating well can help. Getting time, exercising and eating well can help. Getting

plenty of sleep can also help.plenty of sleep can also help.

Monitor Your DietMonitor Your Diet

Making sure your body has the right fuel Making sure your body has the right fuel could impact on your head space.could impact on your head space.

Speak toSpeak to SomebodySomebody

Get some support from somebody you Get some support from somebody you respect and ask for some guidance about the respect and ask for some guidance about the direction you're heading and try to make a direction you're heading and try to make a plan to get back on course plan to get back on course

Avoid Drugs and AlcoholAvoid Drugs and Alcohol

Try not to use alcohol or other drugs (including Try not to use alcohol or other drugs (including lots of caffeine or other energy boosting drinks) lots of caffeine or other energy boosting drinks) in the hope of feeling better or forgetting in the hope of feeling better or forgetting expectations and pressure.expectations and pressure.

The feeling is usually temporary and the after The feeling is usually temporary and the after

effects often make you feel even worse.effects often make you feel even worse.

Repeating or Taking a Year Repeating or Taking a Year OffOff

You might decide to repeat a year. You might decide to repeat a year. Alternatively, you might decide that TAFE is Alternatively, you might decide that TAFE is not the right place for you at the moment not the right place for you at the moment and taking a year off (or more) to work and taking a year off (or more) to work might be the most suitable option for you.might be the most suitable option for you.

You might find it helpful to talk it through You might find it helpful to talk it through

the pros and cons with family, friends and the pros and cons with family, friends and teachers. teachers.