Emotionally colored information is remembered faster. Here's how to use it in learning new words.
It is easier for us to remember words and phrases if they can be represented as a picture or linked to any situation. And a suitable video clip will help a lot here. There are two services that can be used to match such a word or expression: YouGlish and PlayPhrase.me . Everything works as simply as possible: enter the desired text and watch short videos with it. In addition, these services can also be used to improve your pronunciation by repeating the phrase over and over again after the hero.
Maybe one day you ran as fast as you could to get on a train. There were only a few minutes left before departure, you were very close, but... you didn't make it. The train went right in front of your eyes. How did you feel? Very upset — we were very upset.
Or try to imagine the situation: you have to take a very important exam. How will you feel? Worried — excited. And together with the other examinees, you support each other: Don't worry! ("Don't worry!").
The stronger the emotion, the more reliably the word will be fixed in your memory.This way you can remember several words at once. Try to come up with a rhyme yourself, for example:
A cat in English is a cat.
He scratched the whole parquet floor.
You can also learn words from ready—made songs - there are many options on different topics on YouTube. So, this video will help you deal with irregular verbs:
Rhymes and words superimposed on music are well remembered for many years. Just listen to the song several times, trying to sing along to the performer. And if some phrases are unclear, reduce the speed to 0.75.
Memorizing words and expressions by creating vivid associations is called mnemonics. That's how this method works. Pronounce the word in English and find a consonant with it in Russian. Come up with an image or a short story to connect these two words. Speak the resulting text out loud.
For example, "sneakers" in English sneakers. And this word is consonant with the name of the popular candy with caramel and nougat. Imagine that you are walking in sneakers through a swamp of sneakers. Caramel sticks to the sole and stretches after you with threads, chocolate stains the laces. Snickers on your sneakers.
The proposed episode is absurd, but it is the ridiculous colorful stories that are best remembered — all because they evoke emotions in you.
It takes time and imagination to come up with such an image. However, there are websites and dictionaries on the Web with ready-made mnemonic chains. For example, EnglSpace. But do not give up the idea of creating associations yourself: they are remembered better.
This method is especially popular because it is simple and convenient. That's how it works. Prepare 10 cards , where the word is written in English on one side, and on the other — it is also in Russian. Spread them out in front of you with the other side up and try to remember the translation. Then turn the card over and check yourself. Take the next one. Repeat this game until the words are remembered.
Languages can be alternated — next time start the game with the English side of the cards. In addition, words are most easily remembered in context, so it's worth adding examples of their use.
There are ready—made sets of topics on the Internet - for example, on the sites Quizlet and Memrise. If you choose the option with physical cards, for convenience, get a separate box for them. Or even two: put together sheets of paper with new words that you refer to three to seven times during the first three days. And secondly, those terms that you have already memorized and repeat once or twice a month.
At the same time, the most stubborn expressions can be put back into the first box and taught again and repeated until you remember. Also, along with this method, it is worth using an interval repetition system — we will talk about it in more detail below.
Another technique for memorizing new words is using stickers with the names of things that surround you. Stick sticky notes on objects in your room or office so that when you come across them every time, you can remember their names in English.
For example, stick a sticky note with a table on the table, a sticker with a book on the book you are reading, and so on. Every time you use these items, say the names out loud. With constant repetition, you quickly memorize the words.
Stickers with terms or expressions that are not stored in memory in any way can be pasted where you visit most often. For example, above the desk or on the bathroom mirror.
In the same way, you can memorize whole groups of words. To do this, for example, you can paste the names of dishes and products on the refrigerator, and words describing appearance or character on the mirror in the hallway. Etc.
The disadvantage of this technique is that after 1-2 weeks the brain will begin to ignore the stickers. In this case, it is worth replacing them or putting up other stickers in new places.
This technique consists in dividing long words into shorter and easier to remember parts. For example, pineapple ("pineapple") It can be divided into pine and apple. Pine is "pine", and apple is "apple".
We connect the technique of emotional coloring and imagine a pineapple consisting of an apple in which an inverted pine tree is stuck. To consolidate this association, watch the clip for the song by Pikotaro "Pen Pineapple Apple Pen".
This is a fairly popular method that allows you to consolidate information in memory by repeating the material with a certain frequency. The ideal option is to repeat the words 10-15 minutes after studying, then after 1 hour, after 24 hours, after 2 days and after a week.
If you use applications and services for learning foreign words like Drops, Space, Repetito, WordHolicDY Flash Cards, you will not have to make any separate efforts. The programs will automatically prompt you to repeat certain terms after the required period of time. When studying independently , the boxes with the cards that we wrote about earlier will be useful.
Each person is unique, and what suits one may not work for the other. Therefore, do not be afraid to experiment and find your own memorization techniques. Good luck to you!
