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Memorization Techniques

Memorization is the core of learning, especially if you are learning a language. There are many different ways to memorize, but the key to using a successful technique is utilizing a technique that works with your learning style. I’m going to group the different memorization techniques by each type of learning style.

Make sure you take this quiz to see what type of learner you are.

The Visual (Spatial) Learning Style

Method of Loci: Learner associates a location with an item that needs memorization. Then the location becomes a trigger to remembering the item. i.e. you need to remember a grocery list so you associate the couch with milk, the window with eggs, etc. (see illustration)

Visualization: creates images and sequences around certain objects. Similar to The Method of Loci. Object or information that needs to be remembered is associated with a future event. i.e. If you need to remember to bring your jacket, you take time to see yourself in a future situation with your jacket. This triggers the subconscious to help your conscious remember the item. For language learning one might see their cat and then visualize the kanji 猫 or use pictograms of future activities to pair with vocabulary.

Reading repetition: The average person only retains 10%-25% of what they read once. A visual learner can read something 2-4 times and have a retention rate of close to 90%.

The Aural (Auditory-Musical-Rhythmic) Learning Style

Chaining/Story Lining: Create a story surrounding the things you need to remember. If you have a good imagination this technique will drastically increase your ability to retain information. Similar to the Method of Loci, but instead a detailed story is created. Make sure you say the story out loud. i.e. As I spoke about before I created a story including anatomical terms. “The evil gastrocnemius had to travel over the semimembranosus mountains in order to conquer the gluteus maximus.”

Rhyming and Songs: A technique used by Dr. Seuss to help early readers in English learn basic vocabulary. String together rhyming words and/or create songs that contain the things you need to remember. Acronyms can also function within this method. i.e. Japanese verb form you could use the acronym IESK ( I rule, Ed rules, Sam rules, Kings rules) and set it to music. Make sure you sing your Acronym to help make it stick in your memory.

Music Listening: Listen to specific songs while you study. Then as you remember the song, you will remember the information. I got through a semester of 24 credits this way. This can also help if you are someone who needs to study with background noise.

The Physical (Bodily-Kinesthetic) Learning Style

Dramatize: Acting out the information in a dramatic way can create associations to help you remember the necessary information. You can combine this with Chaining.

Walking: Studies show that the act of walking increases memory formation by 25%. The motion allows parts of our brains that are idle during resting study to activate. The ability to unconsciously walk allows the conscious mind to focus more on the task to be learned. Bring your flashcards with you and go take a stroll. You can combine this with The Method Loci and tag things you see on your walk with what you are trying to memorize.

Repetition While Exercising: If you are a hard physical learner you might want to combine time at the gym with your memorization. Each squat you can repeat something you need to remember. i.e. instead of counting your pushups, use the 25 vocabulary words you need to memorize to keep track of your pushups. You can even have the flashcards on the treadmill, and can use circuit training to trigger your memory.

The Logical (Mechanical) Learning Style

Systems Thinking: understand the links between various parts of a system. An important point here is that systems thinking helps you understand the bigger picture. Often the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Person who use this do well with creating outlines, bullet notes, and drawing diagrams of what needs to be memorized.

Repetition Writing: Write the thing that needs to be memorized 100 times. The act of writing it out consistently will make it stick in your memory.

Spaced Repetition: Rewrite your notes, and vocabulary regularly. This can be helpful to all learning types as a general form of repetition as we tend to forget about 25% of new information a day after we’ve learned it.

General tips

Make sure you rest regularly. If you can get a good nights sleep before a test you have a better chance of your brain retaining the information. (So stop cramming.)

Similarly make sure you eat right and give your brain fuel. You do burn calories while studying, so don’t deprive yourself. Snack on healthy fats like nuts for quick and cheap brain fuel.

If you know something well you should be able to teach others. Instead of quizzing yourself try to see if you can teach somebody else. It can be an imaginary person.

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