MSI Press Blog

  If there’s one truth all language learners must face, it’s this: memory matters. Whether you’re building a basic vocabulary, mastering grammatical structures, or internalizing entire passages of speech, your ability to remember and retrieve what you’ve learned is central to your progress. And yes, this includes the much-maligned practice of rote memory. While modern teaching often favors “natural” learning and immersion, there’s no getting around the fact that some elements of language acquisition—like spelling, pronunciation, and syntax—benefit from repetition and memorization. But not all repetition is created equal. If you’ve ever struggled to retain a long word, complex sentence, or structured piece of discourse, you might be practicing in the wrong direction. Let me introduce you to a technique that makes memory work more efficiently : backward buildup . What Is Backward Buildup? Backward buildup is a simple yet powerful strategy that involves memorizing language startin...

  I am a linguist. That means I live and breathe words: I analyze them, collect them, play with them, and use them professionally every day. So when I take memory tests that rely heavily on recalling lists of words, I tend to do... oddly well. Maybe too well. Case in point: I volunteered for an Alzheimer’s research study recently—just doing my part for science. One of the first tasks? A verbal memory test. I breezed through it. Actually, I aced it. Perfect score. As a 70-year-old, that put me in the same memory tier as a 40-year-old, and the researchers raised their eyebrows. I was declared an “extreme outlier” and—because I had agreed to be part of the study—was promptly invited to donate some of my DNA for further analysis. I tried to explain: “I get paid to remember words.” They smiled politely and handed me the blood draw kit anyway. Now, here's the question that still nags at me: is this kind of test really measuring memory across the board, or is it just measuring one k...

  Whether you're studying a new language or just trying to expand your vocabulary in your native tongue, remembering words can feel like a never-ending uphill climb. You learn a word one day, feel confident about it… and then it vanishes the next time you need it. Sound familiar? The good news? You’re not alone. The better news? There are proven ways to make those words stick. Here are some simple, brain-friendly techniques to help you actually remember the words you learn—whether they’re new, foreign, or just elusive: 1. Don’t Just Read It—Use It One of the biggest mistakes we make when learning new words is passive exposure. We read it, maybe look it up, nod, and move on. But your brain is like a stubborn roommate—it won’t remember things unless it has to. So, make your brain use the word. Try: Writing your own sentence with the word. Saying it aloud. Using it in conversation—even if you have to force it in a bit awkwardly at first. The more active your engagement wi...

When a spouse dies, memory plays tricks on us. Grief is not just about missing someone—it’s about trying to make sense of a life that is now suddenly only past tense. One of the most complicated truths of bereavement is that we often don't remember our loved ones as they truly were. We remember them as either an icon —glorified, idealized, a figure bathed in soft light—or as an ogre , the shadowy figure who made life hard in their final days. Neither version tells the full truth. The "icon" memory is seductive. It’s easier to remember only the best—the laughter, the shared victories, the warm touches and private jokes. We place them on a pedestal so high we forget the arguments, the disappointments, the human flaws. It's a comforting illusion, but it can leave us feeling confused when our true memories sneak back in. We wonder if we’re betraying them by remembering anything less than perfection. On the other end of the spectrum is the "ogre" narrative, espec...