How to remember new words and expressions

    Recently I was talking with one of my students about the difficulty of remembering new words and expressions. Part of our conversation went something like this:

      Bob: How many workmates do you have?

      Student: About 20.

      Bob: Do you know all their names?

      Student: Yes, of course.

      Bob: Yes, I know. I'm sorry if that sounded like a stupid question but let me ask you something else and I'm sure you know the answer: why do you remember their names?

      Student: Because I see them every day.

      Bob: Right. Now supposing I invite you to a party and introduce you to a few people. If you meet some of those people in the supermarket a week later, will you remember their names?

      Student: (laughing) probably not.

Comments

    The words we learn are a little like the people we meet. If we meet them often, we will remember them. If we only meet them once, we'll probably forget them very quickly. The experts say that we normally have to meet a word at least 7 times (possibly more) before we can remember it.

    So how can we help ourselves to remember new words? Here's a technique that I teach to my students and which you might also like to try:

    1. Take some thin card and cut it into 3cm. x 3cm. squares.

    2. On one side of the card write the English word or phrase you want to learn in black ink.

    3. On the reverse side of the card, write a Japanese translation in red ink.

    4. When you've made about 8 or 10 cards, put them down on the table in front of you with the English (black ink) side facing upwards. Go through the cards and check that you know the Japanese translation.

    5. Turn the cards over so that the Japanese (red ink) side is facing upwards. Now, go through the cards and see if you can translate them back into English.

      (Note: You'll probably find that some words and phrases are easier than others. In this case, put the cards which are easy to remember on the left and those which are less easy on the right. Go through the cards on the right a few times until you feel that you know them).

    6. Repeat this process several times a day.

    Here are some examples of the type of cards you can make. The ones you see here are based on the topic of the environment:

    　 global 
       warming   

    		 地球温暖化 

      fossil 
      fuels 

    		  化石燃料 
      ozone 
      layer 

    		 オゾン層 
      exhaust 
      fumes 

    		  排気ガス 
      carbon
      dioxide 

    		  二酸化炭素 

Further Comments

    Regarding point 6 above, I recommend an approach which was originally proposed by American linguist, Paul Pimsleur. The approach goes like this:

    1. Check that you know the words on your cards. Then go and make a cup of coffee or do something different for 5 minutes.
    2. 5 minutes later check again.
    3. 25 minutes later check again.
    4. 2 hours later check again.
    5. 10 hours later check again.
    6. Check the cards again next morning, and then make another 8 or 10 cards.
    7. Go through stages 1 to 6 with your new cards.

    Note:
    If counting minutes seems complicated, an easier version of this approach might be: twice in the morning, once in the afternoon, once in the evening, and again next morning. If you are interested in reading more about Pimsleur's approach, Dr. Rob Waring of Notre Dame Seishin University has written an article about it which you can download by clicking here.

    I hope you'll be able to use this study tip and find it useful. I would be very interested to know of your experiences with this technique or of any other techniques you use to help you remember words and phrases. Why not click here and send me an email?

    My collection of one-point lessons is increasing week by week. If you want to try some of my other lessons, please click here

    © Robert E. Jones, 2003