Wouldn't it be awesome if you could create an impromptu Memory Palace on the go? I'm talking about a responsive memory tool that would let you hear a word or phrase and instantly learn, remember and then recall it forever just by thinking of that place.
Here's the good news:
Creating an impromptu Memory Palace is fun and easy to do. You just need to know the principles of the Magnetic Memory Method, and you're good to go.
You can create an impromptu Memory Palace in a restaurant as discussed in this video:
Or you can create your first impromptu Memory Palace in a park as I talked about last week with Barbara Oakley.
Since park Memory Palaces are a bit more challenging here are the basics using 秋天 qiūtiān (Mandarin Chinese for "autumn") as an example. Although I struggled with the pronunciation at the beginning (and even experienced a few rare seconds of frustration), the techniques set the stage for success using the rest of The Big Five Of Language Learning.
Scan The Scene For A Suitable Location
If you're familiar with the method of loci, then you know that impromptu Memory Palace elements are everywhere. But you also know that not all Memory Palace stations are created equal.
For example, stations in obscure and hard to measure places really don't serve as well as stations with fixed features.
Corners, for example, serve as bulletproof stations because they're fixed. You can instantly zoom to them in your mind. Think of the corner of a park, for example, and BANG, your mind Magnetically zooms there.
The weak memorizer, however, chooses loosey-goosey stations, like "halfway between those clumps of trees," or places even less certain.
Focus On Solid And Certain Stations For Total Success
Walking through a park with April discussing German phrases she's learning, 秋天 came up. My eyes instantly searched for a place to create and secure a mnemonic image.
At that point, I had no idea what image I would create. But I let a sense of relaxation overcome me and trusted the process to do its work.
And, of course, the Magnetic Memory Method delivered (it always does).
Combine Your Impromptu Memory Palace Stations With No-Brainer Associations
Of course, you've got to be willing to make mistakes, which is exactly what I did.
Why?
Because to memorize the sound and meaning of 秋天 qiūtiān, I saw a giant 9 and yo-yo because 九 jiǔ (nine) sounds similar to my ear.
However, the similarity is a fantasy in my mind that led to one of my classic pronunciation errors. Nonetheless, by associating the tones of 秋天 with the Major Method and using the word as often as possible in sentences, the work of getting it right every time is underway.
Notice too that by writing this post, making the video and the podcast episode, I'm practicing The Big Five Of Language Learning.
Should you go through all these motions online just to learn a word and practice it?
Not necessarily. But you should do it at a personal level to utilize all your representational systems and learn to speak your language.
Finish The Impromptu Memory Palace Later
The cool thing about a small impromptu Memory Palace like for 秋天 qiūtiān is that there are 3 more terms needed to complete my knowledge of the words for the seasons in Chinese.
冬天 dōngtiān for Winter
春天 chūntiān for Spring
夏天 xiàtiān for Summer
In this case, I used four trees in the park. Each tree served as the station for one of the seasons.
冬天 dōngtiān. I won't tell you what's going on with this image, but let's just say I'm not using a ding dong in combination with a snowy tree.
Published on 9 years, 2 months ago
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