Don’t we all wish there was a simpler way to retain the information; be it new words or never ending historical facts. Learning English and improving communication skills would be much easier if a memory tool could aid with vocabulary. Well certainly it would be and there are many techniques out there, which have been tried by many including mnemonics.
What is Mnemonics??
The concept, especially in the words of Oxford Dictionary, sounds a bit intimidating. The definition goes like this – the study and development of systems for improving and assisting the memory.
As it seems, mnemonics is some kind of a technique, that needs to be studied and systems have to be developed and implemented … well if it is this complicated, might as well learn the concept as it is.
Let us not allow Oxford to haunt us and let the British be with their fancy nomenclature. How about a simpler version of the stated – mnemonics are simply strategies that help retain information. There are multiple mnemonic techniques that enable the objective and can be effortlessly comprehended and implemented; for instance songs & music. Advertisers have long been relying on this mnemonic strategy for building a customer base and ensuring long term association. No wonder we are able to hum songs from old movies that we perhaps watched when we were kids.
Learning English with Mnemonics
Well if the technique is so popular and has been used in various other fields, why not try this memory tool to brush up your vocabulary.
Vocabulary or new words in English or for that matter in any language are essential to add depth to the overall communication skills. Being able to remember words and use them in day to day conversations is a skill that we all wish to possess. Amongst the various other exercises, mnemonics can certainly help retain the meaning of new words and thus improve listening. This is in fact the first step towards English vocabulary enhancement. A learner in his / her initial stages, is able to recognize new words and perhaps decipher their meanings. Once the meanings settle in, comes the stage when one is able to use these words. It is a task that demands patience and continual effort and mnemonics can certainly help build the base.
How???
Illustration 1
Wistful – regretful / nostalgic / longing
Mnemonic – full of wish (left unfulfilled)
Illustration 2
Abase – humiliate / degrade
Mnemonic – Push off the base (push somebody down)
In addition to the word associations, rhymes, pictures and more can be used. One can further relate words with their own experiences and circumstances to enable retention. The notion is to get used to a word, to add it to one’s system and let it grind. Once the technique is repeated often enough, the words begin to occupy their special places in your head. The next time you hear the word, it resonates and while you might not remember the exact meaning, you know that the word you just heard, isn’t an alien. The familiarity deepens every time you check the meaning and correlate it with the mnemonic key. Eventually comes the stage when you are able to not just understand the word, but are also able to proficiently use it in your English conversations.