Erika Luo- Do you remember this?- Week 2
What techniques do you use to memorize something? As someone who is interested in theater, I often have to memorize monologues or lyrics of a song for a performance. The technique that I usually resort to is writing all the sentences that I have to memorize onto a piece of paper and repeating each sentence until I memorize them. Recently, I had to memorize a 5 minute presentation (cough POAS cough) and I wondered if there was a better method to memorize words. I’ve heard in my AP psychology class that we tend to memorize things better when they have relevance to us. Unconsciously, we may memorize certain phrases, words, or sentences because of how relevant they are to us. I found this especially true for me when I compare memorizing stuff for theater and memorizing stuff for academic purposes, such as presentations and speeches. I find memorizing lines for a play fairly easy, but when it comes to memorizing a few sentences for a Spanish presentation, I can not do it for the life of me. This really enforces the concept of how memorizing words that have no significance relevance to you is next to impossible. If you were told to memorize Ae1fo- L3daC- C8Ra2s within 2 hours and recite again next week, you would have extreme difficulty doing so. However if you were told to memorize “Abby eats 1 fresh orange- Lick 3 delicious apples Constantly- Cull 8 Rats and 2 snakes'', you would have an easier time memorizing these phrases (as strange as they are). What techniques do you use to memorize? https://www.dictionary.com/e/emoji/thinking-face-emoji/
Comments
When I memorize things, I like to use mnemonics. I remember taking a test in sixth grade and I use a random mnemonic to remember something on the text. Right now, I use the mnemonic LIATE to remember the order for u substitution in math. Mnemonics are very helpful for me, but sometimes I forget what the letter stands for which is bad. Another bad thing is that I quickly forget my mnemonic the day after the test, so it is not particularly helpful in remember long term things. One mnemonic that I learned a long time ago that I still remember is PEMDAS, but that is probably because we still use them to this day.
I honestly have a pretty bad memory, probably because I don’t have a good memorization technique. This is why I lean towards improv more than a strict script. I feel like during a presentation, there’s nothing wrong with inserting extra lines off the top of your head, but at the same time, it’s why I have high respect for those who do theater because they can remember so many lines. When it comes to memorizing things academically, I usually have to apply the concept and or deep process it in order for it to stay in my memory. I think the only mnemonic that I use regularly is the notes FACE for spaces on a treble clef and All Cows Eat Grass for the spaces on a bass clef (when I’m reading piano music). That and PEMDAS, I suppose.
-Angel Susantin
My memory is as small as a bird, especially regarding lengthy amount of knowledge I HAVE to memorize or know word for word. Thus, presenting things without a notecard in my opinion sucks…I always try to associate smaller things to either my life or things in general to refer back to but sometimes that backfires because I even forget what I associated the term to.
I will start of by saying I have PTSD from memorizing things. I went to a private school before this and we used to memorize a poem every week and recite it on Friday. Like bestie, leave us alone it’s Friday 😭. But, I think that those years helped my memorization techniques as I know a few tricks. I try relating some lined to weird things and makes a story out of it. Memorization is really important in the future especially if I want to be a doctor, so we should try practicing from before.
Sincerely,
Mrinmayee
I generally think that spreading out something into phrases is the easiest and safest option to go into memorizing things. As with many passwords and stuff I just occasionally stare at them everyday and it just becomes jotted down into my minds. I don't know if it is just me but I feel that I actually memorize things better without fully trying my hardest to memorize which is weird and the more time I put into memorizing something the less I get out of that session.
I memorize best when I verbally repeat information out loud. In AP psychology, there are tons of terms, definitions, and people to remember and somehow apply to different situations. I’ve realized reading it in my mind didn’t do much, kind of like how it goes into one ear and out the other. So I started saying everything out loud, which made me consciously aware of what I’m saying, leading me to memorize the terms better. Also, props to you for memorizing your whole presentation, my brain is limited in remembering a whole dialogue for 5 minutes straight!
Sincerely,
Faith Tong