Hi, there! This is Mirari.
Are you someone who claims to have a bad memory?
If you want to learn a new language but struggle with the tons of new vocabulary to memorize, this video is for you!
Today, we'll find out how our memory works
and how to tap into your mind's full potential to learn a language effectively.
Let's start with some good news: anyone can improve their memory to see tangible results.
Perhaps you've seen demonstrations of people who can memorize impressive amounts of information,
or you admire polyglots who can speak over 10 languages fluently.
Maybe you feel like these goals are out of your reach just because your memory isn't very good?
The first thing you should know is that it's not the method you follow
or the medium you use that makes it possible for you to successfully learn a language.
The most important components are you and your brain.
Knowing how to learn is what makes the difference between polyglots and everyday people.
If you try even half of the techniques I'm going to show you,
you'll drastically improve your ability to memorize vocabulary in your target language.
But before we discover these surprising and highly effective techniques,
it's important to understand why they work.
After all, you'll get the most benefits when you understand the strategy behind the method.
To do this, we're going to go over how the brain works, and therefore, how memory works.
How does our memory work?
The first term you should learn is "Neural Network."
Picture this: your brain consists of a huge network of neurons.
We're talking about tens of billions of cells!
Neurons have the ability to send and receive electrical and chemical signals between one another.
Each neuron is capable of connecting to tens of thousands of other neurons.
Just imagine how many combinations are possible!
It's difficult to show these numbers, but this whole system is present in your head.
So don't go thinking that you don't have enough room in your brain to learn a language,
or that you're too old to learn.
One important notion to keep in mind is that neurons never stop connecting and disconnecting from each other.
These connections vary in strength and number.
When you learn a word, a number of strong connections form in your brain for this word,
and you can access the word quickly just because its pathways are relatively strong.
However, it's important to know that connections between neurons weaken if you don't use them regularly.
That's why people say: "if you don't use it, you'll lose it."
And that's why at MosaLingua we use a method called Spaced Repetition System.
We'll talk about it very soon, but you can find the link to our article in the description.
The Forgetting Curve
Have a look at a graphic representation of what we call "The Forgetting Curve."
Can you see the blue line? It shows just how rapidly information is forgotten after we first learn it.
In as little as 8 hours, much of what we've learned is already slipping away.
On Day 1, most people will only be able to recall about 60% of what was learned.
By Day 8, retention is down to just 20%.
So the question now is:
how can you learn the vocabulary of a new language without spending a ton of time on it?
How To Improve Your Memory
Have a look at the graphic again. Next to the blue line, there is a red one.
It represents how much we memorize after the first repetition.
The purple line shows how much we memorize after the second repetition
and the green one is related to a third repetition.
As you can see, the forgetting curve gets smaller when we include repetitions in our learning process.
This shows the important role that time plays in learning and forgetting.
So tip number 1 is scheduling your language sessions.
Without intervention or an appropriate learning strategy, most learners forget 90% of what they've learned within the first month.
In fact, it's not unusual to have forgotten up to 30% of what you've learned
just after a few hours of studying the language.
But don't despair!
With the right approach, you can ensure that the information you learn is added to your long-term memory.
Of course, not everything you learn or experience is treated the same way.
Some memories are stronger than others and seem to stick in your brain.
There are a few different reasons why this might happen.
One of the most common, however, is because the memory is associated with a particularly strong emotion.
So tip number 2 is associating what you're learning with an emotion.
But that doesn't mean that you need to be in a heightened emotional state
to learn something effectively.
There are plenty of tricks for learning and memorizing information.
Let me give you an example:
to remember the word dog in Spanish, "perro," you could try to picture your childhood dog
any time you think of the word "perro."
If you haven't watched Lisa's video about how to create mental images that really work,
be sure to check that one out next. I'll put the link in the description for you.
Finally, your body chemistry can have a big effect on how strong your memory is.
That's why certain lifestyles or food choices can help make the difference between a strong or weak memory from the beginning.
So tip number 3 is having a healthy lifestyle:
maintaining low stress levels, getting a good amount of sleep,
and meditating are just a few ways to build stronger memories.
We've already mentioned the importance of building a strong memory,
but there's something else you can do to make sure you make rapid progress in your target language
and retain 100% of what you learn.
Tip number 4: repetition!
Repetition really is the ultimate key to success.
The more frequently you repeat a word or phrase that you've learned, the better you'll be able to remember it later on.
Research has shown that when you review vocabulary at regular intervals, it increases your retention.
Eventually, it toppers off to a flat line and the memory is secured in your brain.
So let's recap what you can do to improve your memory:
Schedule your language learning sessions
Associate what you're learning with an emotion
Have a healthy lifestyle
Use repetition to make things stick
So that's all for today! I hope these tips will be helpful for you as you work on your memory skills.
Talk to you again soon!
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See you next time!