Oxford emphasizes the importance of associations in memory strategy for vocabulary since the specific memory strategies that Oxford (1990, cited in Nation 1990) mentions consolidate the connection between word form and meaning in memory. Oxford’s specific memory strategies are:
1) Grouping language material into meaningful units
2) Associating new language information to concept already in memory
3) Placing new words into a context, such as a meaningful sentence, conversation or story
4) Using semantic mapping
5) Using keywords with auditory and/or visual links
6) Representing sounds in memory in such a way that they can be linked with a target language word in order toremember it better
7) Using mechanical techniques, such as writing words on cards and moving cards from one stack to another whena new word is learned.
Rivers (1983) summarizes the vocabulary-memorizing strategies normally used by the language learners as follows :
1) Some make lists and memorize them.
2) Some read a great deal and mark with an asterisk, a word they do not understand each time they meet it, thus creating their own frequency counts.
3) Some note down words in a short context, repeatedly writing down the same words until their meaning and use are assimilated.
4) Some make associations with words that sound or look similar in their native language, even though the meaning may be different.
5) Some practice using new words as they talk to themselves in order to commit them to long-term memory.
6) Some read dictionaries.
In this study, memory strategies were selected to find the effect of using them both in storing (as evaluated by immediate post-test) and retaining vocabulary items for longer periods of time (as reflected in delayed post-test) which is the aim of learning.
grouping, contextualization.