July 22, 2011
As a rule, we advise people to go with building up their vocabularies as the first step to language learning. While it works for most people, it won’t for others — especially for those who are bad at memorizing.
If you’ve tried going the vocabulary route only to struggle, then it may be prudent to use a different strategy. One way to do this is by studying grammar — the rules of the language — and picking up the vocabulary along the way.
The idea is to put your focus on structure rather than memorized words and phrases. You learn the different figures of speech in the language, how one relates to the other, how each is used and so on. Doing so lays down the context for usage. Just pick up a dictionary and find the right words to fill in the blanks.
The one downside to a grammar-first approach is it takes a while to be able to use the language. While I can learn five phrases now and use them in the streets tomorrow, the structure-based approach requires gaining comfort with the different figures of speech before being able to actively engage the skill.
Language learning software comes in many flavors. Some of them, including a few popular titles, take on a grammar-based approach to language learning. We suggest using one of those as your primary learning material, as they will be more suited to your strengths (learning concepts, rather than memorizing items).
March 5, 2011
Everyone can do a good job at remembering new vocabulary for their target language. Provided, of course, that you’re willing to put in the time and effort to make it happen.
These four principles, often referred to as the 4 R’s, for improving your ability to memorize should offer an excellent way to approach the activity:
- Resolve. Make sure your head is in the right place. If you don’t want to memorize a bunch of new phrases, no amount of technique will help you. Develop a serious intention to commit elements of a language to memory — that’s how the process should start.
- React. Don’t just passively take in information. If you want to remember things better, you have to actively respond to the language elements you’re trying to commit to memory. Every time you learn a new word or phrase, react to it — process it mentally, create a visual image in your head, write it down on your journal and do other things that will help you form natural associations.
- Reflect. Contemplate on the new information by relating it to something you’re already familiar with, making analogies and comparisons that flesh out the new information’s inherent qualities.
- Refresh. Solidify your acquisition of new language elements by reviewing immediately, either through practice or exercises in your language software that will strengthen the associations you’ve made with it in your mind. Do this right away — the less time you allow to pass, the better results you can gain from your review.
October 5, 2010
Different language software will have different types of approaches for helping you memorize vocabulary. For the most part, it will depend on the particular strategy the program takes. Hopefully, you did adequate research before purchasing, so that it’s a good fit to your preferred learning styles.
Sometimes, integrating a foreign term into your vocabulary requires rote memorization. Other times, in-depth understanding is much more apt. It’s important to know how much effort you should invest when trying to add a new item to your stock, as it’s your best chance at being able to use it actively.
- A random word. Rote memorization is fine when trying to commit words to your vocabulary. The more you encounter it, though, whether for actual use during conversations or when reading foreign publications, the more it’s likely to stick.
- A random phrase. Personally, I prefer learning phrases, as opposed to words. Not only does memorizing phrases force you to learn several words at a time, it also tends to have a more memorable context than individual words.
- A random fact. Strictly memorization, with no understanding or context needed.
- Grammar rules. Memorizing some grammar rules can be useful for expanding your vocabulary, especially ones that govern prefixes, suffixes and word combinations. Knowing the guidelines for word formations, you can come up with communicate with better precision and clarity.
February 5, 2010
Memorizing words and phrases has long been a valid way of picking up a new language. Called production-driven language learning, its focus is on cramming your head with things to say and hoping it sticks.
In such situations, your ability to commit things to memory will obviously play a huge part. Do you have any mnemonics and memory techniques up your sleeve? It might be time to pull them out of their hiding places because you’ll need them if you choose a language training software based on this concept.
Want to know what to expect in detail? Here are a few principles of this approach.
- Being able to say things in the target language is the all-important first step.
- Being able to say things with proper pronunciation is crucial.
- Understanding what you’re saying is important, but the main goal is to be able to learn the words and phrases.
- If you can speak a phrase correctly, you will also understand it when fed back.
- Repetition of learned words and phrases, either in practice or actual settings, should be a priority.
A key part of this approach is the value of seeing language as a social tool. When you memorize phrases, you afford yourself the ability to express meaning in a social setting. The trick to growing as a second-language speaker, though, is practice and repetition – the more settings you use what you have learned, the deeper your comprehension of the lessons will be.
October 29, 2009
Having trouble memorizing vocabulary? You’re not alone. Memorizing has long been one of my weakest points, dating back to the good old days of elementary school. If your second language software lacks a few extra points to help you out in vocabulary building, try a few (or all) of these ones that have worked for me.
Apply images to words. Some words are easy to memorize using images. When memorizing “duck” in French, just picture a duck. However, not all words are as tangible in form. How do you memorize words like “patience,” “someday” or “courage,” for instance? My suggestion is to apply images according to how they sound by closing your eyes, repeating the word aloud and relating it to whatever picture comes to mind. It may sound corny, but it works like a charm.
Semantic mapping. In this method, you create an imaginary map of a language and plot the “location” of specific words in it, like they’re countries. Any time you need to access a word, just look at the map.
Write them down. Writing, for some reason, is very good for committing things to memory. Remember when your teacher made you write down to behave in the blackboard multiple times? It works like that.
Use keywords. One of my favorites is using keywords in English to words I’m memorizing in the target language. I use synonyms, antonyms, homonyms…anything, in fact, that sounds fun. Eventually, they acquire relative meanings in my head.
Feel it. Some people like to memorize by feeling the words. I’m not sure exactly how it works, since I’ve never done it. However, the general idea is geared towards kinesthetically-inclined individuals (about 20% of the general population), who may be able to relate more powerfully to “how things feel.”
Now, try the above techniques and see which one works best for you!
October 27, 2009
Some people contend that 100 words typically comprise 50% of all words employed in spoken conversation. Not only that, this is supposed to hold true in any language, whether it’s English, German or French. As such, memorizing those first 100 words and taking them to heart has been at the core of many language learning courses, whether they be software-based, classroom-style or in other forms.
As a result of this, a large part of early language learning involves memory techniques. Being able to associate meaningless strings of syllables with things that actually make sense to you is the typical first step for any language learner. How you’re able to pull this off will depend on how you memorize things and there are literally dozens of techniques aimed specifically at that.
How good of a speaker will you be with 100 words in your arsenal? Not too good, most likely. Regardless, having that stock to draw on should let you go a long way towards fostering sensible conversations, even if the delivery, phrasing and other facets of speech still leave much to ask for.
Many beginning language learners bemoan the fact that entire lessons are devoted to nothing but memorizing. Without having those basic items committed to memory, though, growing in your language learning goals just isn’t going to happen. The next time you find yourself frustrated at the excessive focus on memorizing, just remind yourself that once you get those 100 words down, you’ll find yourself a long way ahead.
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