Learning English can be a tough task. Memorizing new words, pronunciation, and sentence structure is a challenge in itself. Yet for some, it involves learning a brand new alphabet.
Your ability to transfer information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory is one of the key factors in shortening the learning curve of a new language. Studies show that over 80% of information that only gets retained in short-term memory is quickly forgotten. On the other hand, when information is repeatedly taken in over a given time span and is ingrained in what we term our long term memory, over 95% of this information will be retained and easily recited correctly.
Having read Kate's post on how to learn English through music, today I'm going to share some of the memory-improvement tips I picked up whilst studying English at the London LAL School, from tutors and other students. Hopefully, you find this information useful as it helps you to achieve your goals with the English language. Feel free to add your own techniques in the comments section of the blog; I will be more than happy to answer any questions, also.
Here are my top four tips for improving your memory when learning English, or any other language.
1. Think In English To Develop The Basics
If you only engage with the language when you are in lessons, or when you are communicating with someone who speaks the language, then the frequency of repeating what you know will be low. Increasing this frequency is key to developing long-term memory.
Trying to think in English will not only help you to recap on the language that you have learned already; it will also help you to focus on the language that is important in everyday life. Most people want to learn a language to be able to communicate on an everyday basis with common people within an English-speaking country.
Focusing on daily tasks and commonly used vocabulary will help you to develop your memory of the most used areas of the English language. Learning more specific terms will become easier once you have developed an in-depth knowledge of the basics.
This tip is especially useful if you are learning English in a non-English-speaking country where you won't have the opportunity to practice your English language skills with native speakers.
2. Reading Is Key
One of the best ways to learn new words is to read. While watching movies with subtitles is a great way to learn pronunciation, the pace of a film makes it difficult to identify individual words that you do not understand. Reading, on the other hand, allows you to learn about the general meaning or perhaps the nuances of a given word in any given context.
When you are reading, it is also easy to keep a learning diary, in which new words that you have learned can be recorded and recapped at a later date.
3. Use Memory Triggers
Post-it notes, scraps of paper or storing words within your mobile phone are all great ways of triggering reminders for words that you are struggling to remember. Post-it notes are especially useful; try sticking the English word for a house-hold item to the item. Once you have used the item a handful of times, the repetition of reading and reciting the post it note will establish the English version of the word in your long term memory.
4. Watch Subtitled Movies To Master Pronunciation
Although watching sub-titled movies is not necessarily the best solution for learning specific meanings of words, there is an opportunity to establish and revise pronunciation outside of lesson time.
While you are watching the movie, be sure to keep a notepad nearby and try to jot down any words and sayings that you do not understand; you can then research these later.
Do you have any special techniques that you think have really helped you to memorize English? Share them with us!