Analysis of Memorization Techniques
First, a bit of a preamble. Our current knowledge of how the brain actually functions is very limited. Humans do not know exactly how information is stored in the brain and how it is recalled. Otherwise, an all-encompassing method of memorization would already exist. Neuroscience is going to continue to crack this code but for now it is still one of the great mysteries of life. For this reason many methods work for one person but are impossible for another. All systems claim to have the best method to memory retention but they are just one of many methods. They are not the best, they are just the most popular. Rosetta Stones Patented Method and the Pimsleur Method are some of the most popular and successful. For this reason we believe in combining many methods of memory retention in order to attempt to target and help a larger majority of language learning individuals.
This will continue describing the various memory tricks or techniques in detail and then discuss how they tie into our vocabulary lessons.
Chunking: This is the belief that ‘chunking’ words into groups because of their relationship to one another helps increase memory retention. Through multiple studies over the years this has been proven very effective for a large portion of the population.
Example:
Unorganized List:
Carrots
Apples
Peas
Zucchini
Bread
Oranges
Roll
Pears
List Using Chunking Technique:
Carrots
Peas
Zucchini
Apples
Pears
Oranges
Bread
Roll
Grouping these terms into categories (i.e. vegetables, fruit or baked goods) helps one retain and record the information into long term memory. Creating a relationship between these individual terms is important because it forces you to create a common context.
This technique helps with overall memory retention and for this reason we have broken our vocabulary lessons down into categories. As you follow along with the vocabulary lesson you will be able to continually connect each of the words together and relate them to the over-arching theme of the lesson. This is our version of chunking the words together.
Imagery:
The belief that combining mental visualizations of vocabulary words into an over-arching scene in your mind helps with memorization. Versions of this concept are the memory palace or the pyramid technique.
Example Vocabulary:
Desk
Lamp
Laptop
Phone
Office
Manager
Example Imagery:
*Remember, you do not try to create an inner dialogue. You create a mental picture that combines, groups and associates these words with one another AND a memorable situation.*
My manager was in his office talking on the phone when he tripped over his desk. He knocked his laptop onto the floor and head-butted his lamp.
The scene that is created in your mind will help you remember all key words. The fact that the situation is relatively comical will add to its effectiveness. It is best to think of unique even obnoxious scenes because it will be all the more memorable.
Our audio vocabulary format is perfect for using this technique. As the vocabulary lesson progresses and each word is added you can build upon the previous words. Most of our vocabulary lessons contain 500 words and we know that trying this technique with all 500 at once would be an IMMENSE headache. Therefore you can always stop at a certain point, rewind and repeat the set of words at your own comfort level. We also believe that repeating this process and trying to recreate a scene entirely DIFFERENT from the original scene you created in your mind is both challenging and effective. It increases memory retention because your mind has to work harder to avoid using the same situation twice. This is keeping your mind active.
Repetition:
This is the age old method of memorization and is still one of the most important tools to memory retention. In order to commit something to memory you need to see, hear and say the material over and over again.
Speech Example:
You are trying to memorize a speech you wrote for work or class. You have a printed, written copy in your hand and you first read it a couple of times using internal dialogue. This is triggering visual memory, you will remember how the words looked actually written on the page. Then you read it out loud a couple more times while still looking at your hard copy. This continues to use visual memory but is now stimulating your auditory memory as well. You hear yourself speaking the words. You are also including all of the muscles in your body involved with speech, as well as this part of your brain. You stumble a bit over difficult to pronounce words but work through it and continue. The last step to memorizing the speech is to remove the hardcopy and practice without a visual guide. You repeatedly read the speech with your eyes, repeatedly spoke the speech out loud and repeatedly listened to yourself say the speech.
For our lessons, we believe in this process of repetition. This is why our audio lessons promote follow along practice. You will hear the words being spoken by native speakers, practice speaking the words out loud and be able to follow along with a visual aid. We are also firm believers in the fact that simply hearing the word for apple in your native tongue paired with the same word in your target language, pronouncing them side by side and visually pairing them in your mind will increase memory retention. This attaches the translations together in your mind.
This is our understanding of these memorization techniques and how we utilized them for our lessons. Please give us your comments and feedback. Are we missing certain memorization techniques? What works best for you?
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