Tuesday's Tip for Language Learning #9: Work Your Memory

 

From Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star

WORK YOUR MEMORY 

Just having a memory is not enough for good langauge learning. One just use it. Here are some ways in which you can use your memory. 

Make rote memory your back-up, not your primary approach

Learning "by heart" ids the least effective means of remembering anything. Yes, there are tools, such as flash cards. Yes, this is among the most popular approachces of traditional textbooks. And yes, relying on rote memory can set learners up for overload and failure. As a back-up, yes, it can provide a sense of support and be there when you need automatic and even unthinking recall, but as s business-as-usual approach to language learning, rote memory is not the business you want. Associate memory works better, and binnding works best. Take a look -- 

 

Rote memory

Rote memory is what you learn without a whole lot of meaning attached. Just repetition. Of course, repetition is one of the ways to get information into short-term memory, but there may be much better ways to get it from short-term to long-term memory. Remember the poems and songs you memorized in school as a child. Maybe you did not know ir even understand every word, but you were able to recite the poem or sing the song because you had practiced it so much. That is rote memory.

When you learn something by heart, within a specific context, without understanding the meaning attached to what you have learned, you can only use it in one situation. It does not become something that is really part of your language tool chest, so to speak. 

Rote memory is not an efficient way to learn although it can be effective. (One important note: rote memory skills begin to decline after the age of 15.)

Associative memory

Associative memory forms the basis of most learning strategies. Associative memory is a matter of comparing (associating) new information with known information. That way, it gets attached to what you already know and is easier to store because there is something in the storage area for it to hang onto.  

Binding

Binding occurs when something is recognized on the basis of being partially known earlier or just absolutely makes sense. In both instances, very likely associative memory is at play, but there is an emotional element involved.  

Use memory strategies

Memory strategies help you store and recall words, phrases, and knowledge of grammar without lots of repetition, enabling you to use these elements of language sooner and more fluidly. There are many kinds of strategies. Here are a few:

·       Organize your study

·       Focus your attention

·       Pace yourself

·       Compare (associate)

·       Make connections (use mnemonics)

·       Use roots

·       Structure

·       Elaborate and rehearse

·       Visualize concepts

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