10 Beginner Tips for Learning Python in 2020

How can a programming newbie learn and master Python coding skills without hitting too many books and lengthy tutorials? Another good question is – why to learn Python anyway? In recent years, the popularity of Python has skyrocketed and every Internet industry is in demand of good Python coders. Programming in Python is one of the hottest skills today which many beginners want to learn. 

Due to increased interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence, Python has become one of the most in-demand languages. No surprise, good Python developers are chased after and pursued by corporate HR bounty hunters. This makes learning the Python programming language a great investment essential for career achievements. 

So, what is  the best way for learning Python fast? At the moment, the most practical advice here would be – take courses online and then do lots of practice in coding for deep learning Python. You probably have a good coding school near you but during COVID-19 outbreak sticking to online education is a better idea.

Ok, you are ready to embark on your adventure and start learning the Python programming language. What next steps should you take?

1. Decide what exactly you need to learn Python for.

Before rolling up your sleeves and getting down to learning Python, make sure you have a clear idea of why you’re willing to invest time and effort into learning another programming language. Defying your goals and setting priorities shape the idea of how deep you need to dive into the learning process. Python can be quite a tough language to crack, so a full dedication to learning Python is essential.

It may turn out that you’ll be assigned to write automation scripts or you’ll need to build some mobile apps. Perhaps you’ll be working on face recognition algorithms for analyzing fans’ behavior during the Super Bowl. In these cases, being a coding pro in Python is a must. Knowing your goals will help you omit pointless tasks and keep you motivated during the learning process.

2. Keep written notes during your process of learning Python.

If you’re an absolute newbie, then taking notes and keeping track of information you learned by writing everything down is a smart thing to do. Make sure to outline and write down the most useful blocks of information while listening to lecture material or watching educational videos. Keeping track of functions and techniques which are used for integrating them is also useful during the process of learning Python language. 

If you’re seeking a full-time job in tech industries and want to become a Python developer, keep track of all essential questions that are usually asked by HRs during job interviews. That way, you’ll be fully prepared knowing what questions to expect and know the right answers to them.

3. Collaborate with experienced coders and learn Python in partnership.

Being a Python master doesn’t mean you will be working in solitude most of the time. There is an effective way used for learning Python and mastering coding skills. For example, two developers get together and challenge one another in a coding marathon. One coder is guiding the partner while the second one is implementing trying to complete the task. The developer who does coding is called “driver” and the one who is reviewing the code is a “navigator”. Time after time collaborators switch sides, just for keeping both sides upskill. 

While participating in this pairing challenge, your code gets reviewed and evaluated by experienced developers. That way you’ll have good feedback from pros, which makes it one of the best ways to learn Python. Getting your hands on the actual experience of writing lines of code (LOC) – the best way of learning the programming process. Also, this approach improves your partnerships with professional developers and boosts your social skills by cooperating with others.

4. Find ways to share your experience with others.

Another great technique that can be used to make the process of learning Python language more efficient is role playing. Pretend you’re an instructor who is trying to explain information to students. Go over the process of learning Python step-by-step, ask questions, and provide clear answers. 

Go with recording educational explanatory videos where you talk about parts of the code you have learned and teach them to your audience. This way you’ll advance in your own process of learning Python too. Also, another way to go with learning Python is writing blog posts where you’ll share your knowledge with others. Or there is always a whiteboard which you can use for posting information on and share it with your colleagues. Try these techniques just to see if they help to progress in your learning adventure. 

5. Do not hesitate to take breaks during the process of learning Python.

Even if you are completely overtaken by the process of learning and continuously mastering Python, don’t forget to take breaks. Otherwise, it can get overwhelming. Every time you feel like you succeeded in learning something – give yourself a break and let your brain absorb the information. Switching attention to other tasks is important, especially when it comes down to debugging. When you come across a bug that you’re having trouble with tracing down, it’s good to disengage and put everything on hold for a while. After you come back and look at the problem with fresh eyes, your chance of stumbling across the solution of a problem will be much higher. 

6. Maintain consistency in coding with Python language

Maintaining consistency for better absorbing of a new programming language is a key to success. Set a certain time every day when you can devote yourself to learning Python. It can be from 30 minutes a day to 3 hours (depends how busy you’re). Again, make sure you have enough breaks during your Python learning process, just don’t make them too long.

7. Code anything you’d like to code with the Python language

There are plenty of exercises out there which were specifically designed for beginners to sharpen their knowledge. Check out resources online to start building codes, libraries, paths, and manipulations with Python language. Practice every day and after a while you’ll gain enough confidence for professional projects.

8. Ask GOOD questions while doing your projects 

Identifying and asking the right questions will speed up the process of solving the problem and avoiding meaningless work. While requesting assistance from another developer, who might not have a clue about your project, you need to know how to provide them with clear information. That way you’ll be sure that he has good understanding of what needs to be done. Here is a simple list of essentials that will help you to get straight to the point:

G – Give a detailed description of a problem.

O – Outline every solution you’ve tried.

O – Offer your best guess on how the problem can be solved. 

D – Demonstrate possible reasons that might have caused the error.

Don’t skip any steps mentioned above, otherwise you’ll end up with endless questions which will slow down the whole process and will keep you from getting everything done.

9. Practice Python language daily

Don’t just learn – apply by implementing. Do not hesitate or don’t be afraid to practice skills you gained. Find a free project for yourself, which you think you are able to handle, and go with it by doing lots of practice. You can quickly find one by placing an offer on some of the freelance platforms on the Internet. Try not just complete as many tasks as you can, but make sure these projects differ. That way you’ll keep on sharpening your skills.

10. Try open sources for deep Python learning

Opt into working with open-source platforms. Join communities of professional engineers and programmers online who are ready to share their knowledge and highlight those tasks that have been already solved. Once you get enough experience doing projects in Python, you’ll become the one who also contributes to learning Python language by sharing experience with others. 

Here is a list of some useful resources available online:

• Django – simple, easy-to-read, flexible, and scalable open-source framework that provides support to developers with the back-end of web apps.    
• TensorFlow – an artificial intelligence library that will let you create large-scale neural networks.
• Flask – an useful source for developing web apps. 
• Scikit-learn – a framework which is based on machine learning and can be utilized for producing applications.
• Keras –  an open-source library that will let you experiment with neural networks.
• NumPy – helps to perform scientific computing with Python language.

You can advance your skills in Python language by taking online courses on Grinfer’s platform. After you put your knowledge into practice, you’ll be amazed by results and great outcomes.