Memory techniques

I have spent time over the last week learning and preparing. Although I’m not totally confident with all of it, I am ready to have a trial run so I know what I have still to work on during this week before the real exam next Monday (26 th ). I have not done very much, but I feel like I do know most of it already, and I think I should have a trial run now, and then, if I’m not as good as I think, I’ve got time in the rest of the lesson today/tomorrow/ and this week to get better. I have tried to do a bit during the week but nothing is sticking in my head. I know I won’t be able to do more than the first line from memory. I need to try out some different strategies first in class and I will then commit to using the best one(s) during this week to get ready for the exam next Monday. I haven’t started! I just can’t get round to doing anything Spanish-wise outside of the lessons. I know this won’t get me a good grade in the assessment but I think if I work hard on strategies in this first lesson, I could be ready to have a trial run by the end of today’s lesson, so I know how much progress I’ve made.

Memory techniques: 1 Chunking  Break your work down into sentence ‘chunks’  Take one paragraph and count the number of sentences  Draw that number of boxes onto a page  Write each sentence into a box from left to right  Look at the first sentence in your notes and read it out loud. Then, close your eyes and say (‘seeing the words in your mind’) or ‘air write’ the sentence without looking at it  Repeat the step above, this time with the first 2 sentences  Next, try it with 3 sentences. Then 4. Repeat until you have (mostly)memorized the first paragraph

After a study session, take a quick nap or relax. New memories are very vulnerable, but studies have shown that sleep helps your new memories stick. After your nap, repeat the memory technique once more for maximum retention. Ok, you can't sleep now but talk about something else for 3 minutes (yes, have a chat!) then we will do stage 2. Try to do your Spanish learning work an hour before bed time - spend half an hour on it, half an hour getting ready for bed and then sleep.

 Now turn over and draw the boxes again  This time put the first letter of each word only, followed by a line. E.g. m__ g________ l__ c_________  When you have finished, try to complete the text without looking at your notes. Now take a 3 minute break  Now turn over and draw the boxes again  This time put a picture in each box instead of any words  Try to use colourful, humorous images to link to the idea of the sentence  When you have finished, try to complete the text without looking at your notes.

" Active learning is the key to rememberi ng. You have to DO something to keep the words in your head.”

Memory techniques: 2 Visualisation  Use images to help you remember  Assign a picture to each sentence or part of a sentence E.g. L’affiche = poster (in French)

Top tips for using mneumonics to remember your text:  Use positive, pleasant images.  Your brain often blocks out unpleasant ones.  Use vivid, colourful, sense-laden images - these are easier to remember than drab ones.  Use all your senses to code information or dress up an image. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.  Give your image three dimensions, movement and space to make it more vivid.  You can use movement either to maintain the flow of association, or to help you to remember actions.  Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image.  Use humour! Funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than ordinary ones.  Similarly, silly (or rude) rhymes are very difficult to forget!  Symbols (red traffic lights, pointing fingers, road signs, etc.) can code quite complex messages quickly and effectively.

A Try thinking of images for the next paragraph of your text. Remember to make them as vivid and unusual as possible so they stick in your mind. B Speak your text through with these pictures to prompt you (then have a 2- minutes chat with your partner). C Now see if you can remember your text by just thinking of, or looking at your images.

" It ' s much easier to remember colourful, memorable mental images, than it is to remember dull facts."

Memory techniques: 3 All in a song!  Using a simple tune you know well can be a powerful aid to memory.  Choose a very simple tune (children’s songs work best because they are in our long term memory)  Take a line of text from one paragraph and fit it to the tune  Add the next line, and so on for a whole paragraph. Keep checking the text at this stage!  Keep singing it over and over until you can cover the text and sing the song without referring.

Try:  If you’re happy and you know it  Baa Baa Black Sheep  She’ll be coming round the mountain

Memory techniques: 4  The Roman Room method - mentally picture a room in your house and select several items in it e.g. if you choose your bedroom and mentally in that room picture your bed, your lamp, your PC, your wardrobe...  Then mentally place your sentences on / in / under / next to these places in your room - remember that the more unusual you can make these connections the better - you can use images to help you remember your sentences too.  Mentally you can then walk around your room reciting you text  The items in your room act as prompts for each sentence and the route you take around the room helps you form your whole text.  At home you can physically put post-its with your sentences on these items of furniture and walk your route using a different room for each question

Try this with a paragraph of your text Voy a menudo al cine porque me gusta mucho. Mis películas favoritas son las comedias y las películas de acción. No me gustan las películas románticas porque son aburridas. Pero a mi madre le encantan las películas románticas. Prefiero ir al cine con mis amigos.

Memory techniques : 5 Key words and/or pictures  Take a piece of paper for each bullet and paragraph.  Split the paper in half like this:  At the top is the English bullet and on the left is your answer broken down into sentences or chunks  On the right hand side you write key words or draw pictures to prompt your response  When ready, cover the left side and use the right to help you recite the text Try this with the next paragraph of your text

Plenary 1 - pair discussion  Which 5 methods have you looked at today?  Which method(s) do you think might work best for you and why?  Which method are you going to use to learn the answer to your controlled assessment?  Are you going to use the same technique for all of the text? And finally on lined paper  Write down which method(s) you found most useful  Write down an example of what you learnt today using the method(s). This week  Use the method(s) to help you complete your learning for the assessment next week