Jo's tips for improving your memory Part 3

Create multisensory memories...

A few weeks ago, I asked you to become aware of your preferred learning styles. Did you work it out - are you a visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learner? While we all have a dominant preferred learning style, most of us use a combination of all three styles in different ways. When we talk about memory - while learning with your preferred style is great, it is even better when you actively learn with all three. We all learn best and fastest when we link together many of the brain’s abilities.

Multi-sensory experiences help us to form long lasting memories. So when you want to remember, do everything you can to ensure that there is a visual, auditory and physical experience in your learning.

The following are some ideas that incorporate all three styles. Make notes or a learning map as you learn from a talk or lecture – or when your tutor is explaining something. By doing this - you listen (auditory), make notes or drawing (kinaesthetic) and see what you have produced (visual). To apply this to your tutorial – when doing a new role play in your language (e.g. shopping/at a restaurant etc.). As the tutor is explaining the role play– draw the elements on a piece of paper in order (you don’t need to be an artist – as long as you can recognise the figures/drawings); then add the language structures you will need (remember – only write in your new language) and then look at the map as a whole before actually doing the role play.

Remember the steps in a process. Watch someone else’s demonstration (visual); say the step out loud (auditory) and then walk through or act out the steps yourself (kinaesthetic) before actually attempting it for real. You can apply this to every tutorial.

Make visual images interact. Visual memory is usually the strongest – especially if you make the mental images larger than life and connected. Picture a dog running to greet you rather than passively standing/sitting at the front door – you can hear the sound of the dog breathing (auditory); see the dog coming towards you (visual) and your body is readying itself for the dog to start licking you (kinaesthetic). Movement adds memorability. To apply this to your tutorials – e.g. practising introductions – once the tutor has explained your lesson, leave your note books on the table, stand up, walk around and introduce yourself to every person you see.

Flash cards. This is great for learning vocabulary, a new alphabet or a new language structure.

Draw a picture on one side of a small card or use a magazine picture (visual); Say the word or phrase aloud as you write it on the back of the card in your new language (auditory); Each time you go through the cards, imagine you are using the new words/structure in-country. Remember – NO ENGLISH - only your new language.

Try some of these methods while doing your online lesson or during your tutorials. If you have found some ideas that work for you really well, please share them with the VLLC community.

Enjoy pushing the boundaries of your memory.
Jo

(References:
Accelerated Learning for the 21st Century – Colin Rose and Malcom J Nicholl;
The Learning Revolution; Gordan Dryden and Dr Jeannette Vos).
Both of these books are great reads if you want more in-depth information on accelerated learning.