Pedogogical question: help with memorization techniques. (fwd)

[Zev bar-Lev]

Everything you have done is no doubt helpful, but what you are
contemplating is also vital.  Indeed she is not necessarily slow-witted or
even weak in language.  But some of us can't memorize unless the material
has a kind of defined structure for us.  Etymology is enough for some, but
just doesn't "catch" for others.

Mnemonic associations are a good first step.  E.g. 'soak' in JUICE, 'push
Alice t'' say PLEASE, the more bizarre the better, 'S-tree-beetle' for
"fighter-plane" [?] and it doesn't have to catch the exact pronunciation.
I used to think that these were "stupid", but I've recently become
convinced of their power.

Writing words in transliteration or phonetic transcription may be helpful:
the only way you can know is to try.  Some people are visual, but a
different alphabet sets up a barrier to the visual, even after you "know"
it.

And of course role-playing, acting out, anything to involve other parts of
the body than the brain and mouth, etc.

After some weeks or months with these techniques, they begin to work so
well that you don't even need them.  But they should be used patiently at
first.  For example, i think it is a mistake to decide to learn so many
words in such a time:  Do only as much as you can do effectively.

hope this helps.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          zev bar-Lev (prof.)
          dept. of linguistics & oriental languages,
          san diego state university, san diego CA 92182
          e-mail ZBARLEV at mail.sdsu.edu
          tel. (619)-594-6389
          fax: (619)-594-4877
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////