One of the big concerns of many language learners is forgetting what they've learned when it comes time to use it.
During a conversation, in an interview, or on a test, for example.
Hi! I'm Abbe and today I'd like to share a question
we are really interested in getting to the bottom of here at MosaLingua:
how to make sure you don't forget the language you're learning.
Do you know what else you shouldn't forget?
To subscribe to our awesome and super useful YouTube channel!
We post tons of free videos to help you become a successful language learner.
Let's get back to today's topic: our best tips to help you not forget what you've learned.
The number one mistake we see with some language learners
is assuming they're going to automatically remember what they've learned.
Forever.
The truth is that you can't really say that you've learned something
until it makes its way into your long-term memory.
Our brain has this annoying habit of erasing part of the information it once stored.
So if you learn a word today, eventually you're going to forget it.
That blue line on the graph is called the forgetting curve
and much ink has been spilled trying to prove this phenomenon.
So if you learn something today make sure you review it again tomorrow
and then again in 8 days; again in 30 days; and so on and so forth.
That's what the Spaced Repetition System (or SRS) does:
reminds you to review what you've learned as many times as needed
until you've committed it to your long-term memory.
And it's exactly what we use in the MosaLingua apps and courses!
Because it would be a shame if you forgot everything you learned with us.
For more details about the SRS, check out Luca's video about it.
Speaking of Luca, while I was working on this video I had an interesting conversation with him.
Luca has learned six foreign languages and he has observed that
once he reaches a high-intermediate level, about a B2
he's much less likely to forget things.
For example: when he went back to Italy after spending 10 months in France
he was surprised to find that although he was no longer practicing French on a regular basis
he wasn't really losing his skills.
After about 18 months, he had only forgotten a little bit of vocabulary.
But 90% of what he knew was still there
and his listening and speaking skills were almost entirely intact.
This is something we've also observed over the last 10 years with MosaLingua learners.
When a student takes a break from learning too early on in the process
it's detrimental to their language skills.
A beginner or false beginner can lose what they've learned very quickly.
If you were to plot that process on a graph
you'd see that it's the exact opposite of the learning curve for beginners.
Beginners tend to make spectacular progress when they start.
But as they go, it takes longer to make significant improvement, until they reach a sort of plateau.
Although this plateau that people talk about can be frustrating, it's actually a good thing.
Like a protective wall for your language skills.
Once you've hit it, you're less likely to lose your skills.
So, whatever you do, don't stop practicing for an extended period of time
when you're still on that steep incline of the learning curve.
If you want to make sure you don't forget anything important
make the effort to apply what you've learned.
One of the reasons we suggest studying a grammar rule only when you feel the need for it
is because we know that if you study grammar without actually using it in writing or conversation
it will be completely useless to you.
If you want to make sure you don't forget a word, or a grammar rule or conjugation, for that matter,
in addition to reviewing it often you should also use it often.
A strategy we suggest is writing down the words you want to memorize
and then trying to work them into your speaking practice, either with yourself or someone else
or your writing practice.
For example: writing a journal entry about a topic related to the words that you're learning
so that you're forced to use them.
This is really powerful! Try it out for yourself.
Learn 10 new words and for 5 of them, make sure you use them ASAP.
Then, after about 10 days, compare how well you remember those 10 words.
I think you'll find that the 5 words that you put to use right away
are much easier to remember.
On this channel, we've talked a lot about memorization.
So for more great tips for making sure you don't forget your target language
we put links to a few other videos in the description.
Be sure to check those out next.
That's all I have for you today.
Remember, to make sure you don't forget what you've learned:
review on a regular basis
make sure you reach a strong intermediate level before taking a break
and apply what you've learned as soon as possible.
Take care and have a good one!
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