Techniques for adapting to a new educational environment.
When the teaching style doesn't match your learning style, you have to adapt. I developed several strategies to keep up with Canadian classrooms.
Pre-reading: I started reading lesson materials before class so I'd have context before the lecture. This reduced the cognitive load during class.
Note-taking in English: I forced myself to take notes in English instead of Spanish. This accelerated my language processing and reduced translation lag.
Asking questions: I learned to ask clarifying questions even when I felt embarrassed. Most of the time, other students had the same questions.