For most of us, the biggest problem in learning a new language goes beyond pronunciation, spelling, or grammar structure. Although we tend to struggle with all of these to varying degrees of frustration, the main issue we all can relate to is one of information retention. Actually, if we retained information properly, all of the other hurdles that I listed could hardly be hurdles at all.
Do you have trouble with spelling? If you retained the information about how the word is spelled and you could see in your mind how to spell it, you wouldn’t struggle. Do you have trouble with pronunciation? If you remembered how different letters and letter combinations were properly pronounced, it wouldn't be such a problem. See what I mean?
My point here is not to further discourage or complicate. In fact, I find it a bit encouraging that all of the major struggles can be traced to a single "dragon" of sorts that needs to be conquered in order to proceed with more confidence and efficiency in the learning process.
Going from here, I’m here to share 5 proven techniques to actually learn and memorize what you desire in your target language(s). Let’s begin!
Write It Down: This is by far my favorite strategy. As someone with a semi-photographic memory (i.e., a visual learner), this is my power move for solidifying the memory of learning a word or phrase. Find the most important points of what you would like to retain, and write it all down at least once. Exactly what you need to put down on paper is up to you. It depends solely on the amount of information you need to jog your memory when you read it back again later.
Teach It: Are you a fan of public speaking, or do you just like practice aloud? Share the information that you have learned as if you are a teacher, even if you are alone. How would you convey this new information to a classroom? You may even find that you understand the material better yourself after going through the mental process needed to transfer the information from simple thought to spoken word. This is one of the most common gaps to overcome for learners, which I'll discuss later, but conquering it alone is the first step to a killer strategy for memorization.
Say It: This is a lot like the former point, except that you are merely reciting the information that you just obtained to yourself, word for word. Hearing your own words not only expands your association with the new information to something heard and not just read, but it also explores the tactile quality of forming the sounds on your own. Say it more than once. Make a jingle. Sing it out loud to yourself in the shower or in the car. It’s all up to you!
Create a Story: How would you use these phrases or words in an everyday situation? Find a time when this information could be used in the near future, like on a trip to a foreign country, during a phone call, or in an argument. Think creatively... it doesn't have to be serious! Sometimes it helps to think over the phrases you’ve used on the same day in your native language, and replace them with the matching ones in your target language.
Attach Meanings: This is a fantastic strategy that is used by many famous polyglots. Attach well-known vocabulary, another phrase, or a personal meaning to what you are learning. For example, if you're trying to learn a foreign word for dog, perhaps recall your own dog and make a sentence about something it does. It’s a great way to tie new meanings from a target language to your everyday life and what is most important to you.
Of course, there are many more strategies out there for exploration—these are only a few! The key here is to test them out and find out which ones work most effectively for your individual learning style (which I'll also discuss later). Happy learning!
