Ruizhi Lin - Vocabulary (week 17)
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When language is associated with memory, my mind drifts to first grade, when I still did not have a good grasp of the English language. Thus, whenever my teacher proctored spelling tests, I found the assessments hard (so I cheated a few times) and received satisfactory results.
One of the most common memorization techniques in high school is last-minute cramming, which has inconsistent reliability. Although at times people can successfully ingrain material in their short-term memory, much of their effort is wasted (in a way) as the contents tend to be forgotten soon afterward.
Humans naturally remember better when they concentrate all their attention on something. Memory works similar to a network, as it is strengthened when knowledge is strung together. Thus, the more logical pieces of information are when put together, the longer the knowledge as a whole will be remembered.
The most well-known forms of memorization are association and spaced learning/repetition. Similar to building muscles, soaking up information and then taking a break allows the brain to digest the information on a deeper level, just like pushing a person’s strength to the limits. After forgetting a bit of the information, reviewing strengthens understanding of the material, just like how muscle builders exercise after new and stronger muscle fibers grow.
Although many experts agree that memory does fade if left unused for a period of time, they are still debating what triggers memory decay and what the optimal intervals of memorization are.
Comments
I heard that spaced repetition is very helpful too, and I want to try it out in the future. I also heard that connecting topics is very important if you want to create long lasting memories, especially in science related studies. For example, in biology, if you can remember the connection between two processes, it is easier to remember what they do and how they do it. For some reason, I remember certain things better if I use hand movements. I still remember the unification of Italy where two separate groups took back Italy, one from the north and one from the south, because I used my hands to symbolize it.
Thank you for addressing this topic! I’m completely guilty of last-minute cramming for all of my classes. I certainly know it's an unhealthy way to go about studying, but I can’t seem to help it. I swear I’ll fix my study habits soon! I have always wanted to try association and spaced learning/repetition to study for my tests, which is especially important this year because I’m taking three AP classes. I should probably start getting on the healthy study habits soon…
-Angel Susantin
I can imagine how difficult it must be to take a test about a language you don’t even speak well ( me in Spanish class T^T). I’m glad that you ended up finding a solution to these spelling and grammar tests though, albeit it had been with a method that could get you in serious trouble. I wish I had the ability to last minute cram for a test, but I am physically unable to do so. Do you have any pointers?
I too, try to speed run study to memorize concepts just hours before a test. It is literally the worst, and I try to tell myself to study beforehand in the future(wowza! I don’t!) I always rely on trying to connect the dots between events, formulas, and such before a test and just quizet’ing everything. It works, sometimes. I’m trying now(though it’s late) to continue trying to find a better study habit and I do see some results coming from it.
I can relate to your blog post as I usually try and connect things together to remember them. This works especially well with history and sometime science concepts. This technique allows me to barely forget any information and if I do, then I connect it with other information I am familiar with. Till junior year I never got the idea of how reviewing is beneficial as I would be under the impression that it would harm my grade right before a test, but I learnt this the hard way, but hey at least I learned it.
Sincerely,
Mrinmayee Sama
I have tried many memory techniques; while some provided satisfactory results most of the times have failed. I have found that I generally have bad memory under pressure or when I try to retract a certain something while like one hour or so later, I automatically remember everything. I wouldn't say I have the best memory when it is for studying but I am more better at remembering the land structure of a certain place and know it from top to bottom from just a walk through or looking at a map which is pretty strange. I guess it is just how every human being differs from each other.
Learning a new language is hard since it’s something we are unfamiliar with. I find myself struggling to memorize and spell Spanish words correctly. Even though I am in Spanish 3 right now, I still get the accent marks mixed up or spell Spanish words like how I would spell English words. For me, I try to say those words out loud in order to memorize them better and also practice my pronunciation. Repetition is a very good method of improving memory, and I found out that after I repetitively studied for my Spanish vocabulary quiz I was able to remember the words more efficiently.
Sincerely,
Faith Tong