Relearning means relearning something from a different perspective than the original one.
Relearn is a term that is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). It is, in any case, a concept that is used quite frequently in the field of education to name the process of learning something again, from a perspective different from the original one .
The notion of relearning, therefore, is often used in conjunction with two other ideas: learning and unlearning . Learning consists of acquiring knowledge through the analysis of an experience, a reading or a speech. The learning process allows you to develop a skill or enhance a capacity.
Certain currents of pedagogy contemplate the possibility of unlearning : in this case, the verb refers to putting aside what was learned and then returning to it from a different perspective. To unlearn, a conscious task must be carried out that leads to denying pre-established principles.
The action of relearning
After learning and unlearning, then, the time would come to relearn . When relearning, the person changes the paradigm and, voluntarily and consciously, retraces the path of learning to encode concepts in a different way.
Suppose that, in adolescence, an individual learns about the history of his country by memorizing the texts proposed by his high school teacher. A few years later, the person begins to question that knowledge. He then makes the decision to stop considering them valid ( unlearn ) and begins to study history again, this time with other books and talking with other individuals. In this way he manages to relearn what is linked to the historical events of his nation.
The same can and usually happens with concepts related to morality and principles , since during our childhood we do not usually have the option of seeking our own convictions but rather we absorb what our elders teach us. There are plenty of stories of people raised in machismo and racism who later become important spokespersons or activists for human rights, and others who grow up immersed in animal exploitation who, as adults, advocate for the freedom of all species equally.
But such a drastic and profound change is not easy, or at least it does not seem to be the preference of the majority, as can be seen with the naked eye in society, where there are many young people who blindly follow the same erroneous path as their parents. and their grandparents , instead of thinking for themselves, questioning their ancestors and seeking new answers to life's questions. Setting out to unlearn and relearn, in short, is something that very few people do.
By relearning, it is possible to leave behind misconceptions and prejudices.
The importance of evolution
The need to relearn is inevitable if we seek to become human beings with a solid and rich intellectual structure. It is neither healthy nor natural to expect a truth to remain unchanged from the moment we are born until we die; The changes in our body, our mind and the climate itself show us that we are part of a reality that is constantly evolving , and that this is not positive or negative, but rather it simply happens and we must adapt to survive.
When we are faced with the possibility that one of the concepts we believe we master is not entirely accurate, it is normal for us to present a certain resistance to believing it and to try to defend our position. After a while, two opposite paths open up: we pretend that nothing has happened and we continue defending our vision; We open ourselves to the discovery and relearn, after which we become wiser people.
Humility is a fundamental element to lead a healthy and happy life, since it allows us to relate to our environment in a respectful way, accepting that we all have an equivalent part of the planet and that, therefore, we have something that can be of use to others. someone. It is through this way of approaching life that we open the doors to unlearning and relearning, without fear of change but with the desire to grow and discover new horizons .