How I Memorized German Phrases Every Day For A Year
Guest post by Richard Gilzean
Note: What follows is a deconstruction of the steps I took (and continue to take) to improve my German. But rest assured, these same steps will work for memorizing phrases in any language.
Sound good?
Regardless of whether you've been learning a second or third language for a while, or just starting out, this approach to memorizing foreign languages will help you.
In the beginning was the Word SENTENCE.
You might be wondering: Why learn German phrases and not just individual words?
Good question. The answer is that we all read, write, listen and speak in sentences, or fragments thereof. The sentence is at the core of any language and learning to master the sentence should be considered. Even the most basic language guide book for travelers teach simple German phrases that follow syntax.
Don't get me wrong. Words are beautiful in their own right. We all should invest in the time to learn what a word means and how to best use it. And this is achieved by working those words into sentences as you work on your bilingualism.
How I Built My "Internal GPS" (And You Can Too)
Before launching into memorizing my first German phrase, I designed the Memory Palace system that would store them. I've been interested in the art and craft of memory training and self-improvement for a couple of years. But I only really started to study it closely after coming across Anthony's book How to Learn and Memorize German Vocabulary which, in turn, led me to the Magnetic Memory Method website.
Recommended resource: The Magnetic Memory Method Masterplan.
Anthony's approach to teaching anyone how to learn, memorize and recall vocabulary, names, mathematical formulas and pretty much anything that can be memorized is both well-structured and comprehensive. So I'll just highlight the essential components as they relate to learning languages and all of you who have been following Anthony's site will be familiar.
You'll need to draw from your own personal memory bank a real location in which to store your sentences. It can be a place you know well, like the house you live in, or the place where you grew up that holds its own strong memories. It can be a route you follow regularly, such as a park or your daily commute from home to work.
With a little practice you can come up with more than enough Memory Palaces. While there are some general guidelines about how to make your Memory Palace effective, there is a lot of divergent opinion on how to make best use of your own Memory Palaces because no two thought processes are alike.
Because I knew I would need a large location to hold my expanding sentences, I chose a route that ran from the front door of my house, along the street, through a local park and over to my son's local primary school – some 400 meters in total.
From AA to ZZ: Where I Keep My Memorized German Phrases
But before you set off on your journey, you'll need to figure out your memory anchors. Think of the process like mental orienteering where you go for a jog in your mind along a s
Published on 9 years, 6 months ago
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