Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:17:34 +0000Géralde Vincent-BancroftMnemonic is a method designed to help recall information that is difficult to remember.

Our memory stores complex stimuli such as images, colours, smells, sounds, emotions, touch etc… and the aim of mnemonics is to use our whole mind to help us remember the new information we’re storing….

Mnemonic is a method designed to help recall information that is difficult to remember.

Our memory stores complex stimuli such as images, colours, smells, sounds, emotions, touch etc… and the aim of mnemonics is to use our whole mind to help us remember the new information we’re storing. The main way to do it is by encoding information using vivid mental images that are easier to recall when needed because the mind builds strong associations between the information and the mental images.

Mnemonics is acknowledged a very effective learning method and can help greatly in growing foreign language vocabulary.

How can we use mnemonics?

They are various ways. First it suffice to say that you can code information vividly using stories, strong mental images, familiar journeys, the list is endless.

Designing mnemonics

There are three principles in the use of mnemonics which are: imagination, association, and location.

1– Imagination is used to create and strengthen the association needed. The more strongly you imagine and visualise a situation, the more effectively it will stick in your mind for later recall.

2- Association is the method by which you link a thing to be remembered to a way of remembering it. You can create associations by:

* Placing things on top of each other

* Crashing things together

* merging images together

* Wrapping them around each other

* Rotating them around each other, or having them dancing together

* Linking them using the same colour, smell, shape or feeling.

3- Location gives you a coherent context into which you can place information so that it hangs together, and it’s a way of separating one mnemonic from another as well. [ Mindtools.com]

Brake long words into easy to remember syllables. Visualise each part of the word and create a unique association for them. The more unusual the association the easier it will be for you to remember.

You might want to link part of the foreign word with a word in your mother tongue that sounds like it. This is called the keyword mnemonic, and researchers have found it effective in memorising foreign language words.

The next step in the memorising process is to match a mental picture to each syllable. It is recommended to use pleasant images because the brain tends to block unpleasant ones.

* Use vivid colours

* use all your senses ( sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements, feelings)

* use movement to maintain the flow of association

* Use funny images

* Use symbols like red traffic lights, road signs etc….

Lastly, create a pictural story. The plot will then help you remember the words, phrases or sentences you want to memorise.

It might seem difficult at first, but the more you practice this method, the more effectively you will learn to use it.

Are you using mnemonics in your language study? Please let us know how is it working for you.

Do you want to know your level at the language you’re currently studying? Take this Quiz!

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