Listener Elizabeth asks for advice about what to do when she remembers words in her target language on one day, but finds that they've disappeared the next day. It's a dilemma: Should she review and get the information perfect before moving on? Or just stick with the programme and hope that things will stick eventually?

This show contains plenty of great ideas and tips about digital flashcard systems, vocabulary learning, and how memory works when it comes to vocabulary learning and boosting your memory for keeping vocabulary in your mind longer.

If you want to take your vocab further and build yourself this effective system for getting better at remembering vocabulary using the three steps I’ve described in this podcast, check out my course Your Solid Vocab Memory.

Thank you to Kris Broholm for this episode introduction. Kris is the host of the Actual Fluency podcast.

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Sponsored By:

• LingQ: Enjoy reading books, watching films and listening to podcasts in any language. LingQ offers over 24 languages. Get 35% off selected plans with this link.

Links:

• Solid Vocab Memory | Fluent Language
• Join My Newsletter
• Tips to Improve Your Vocab Memory by Fluent Language
• Language Dabbler's Guide to Welsh — Code CARIAD will get you a special discount!
• Coronavirus scare: When will ′hamsterkauf′ become an English word? | Business| Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 05.03.2020

Today I answer a listener question from Hadassah about memorizing vocabulary that describes ideas, not objects

Here are a few handy tips in summary - listen to the show to hear my many examples and in-depth explanations.

1. The post-it method. Write your words on post-its and stick them up around quirky places that do have a connection to the ideas you’re describing. The added creativity involved in connecting the abstract concept to the object will help you remember it as you spent more time contemplating the word and making it ’sticky'

2. The Language Play Method In addition to associating the concept with an object, you can also use the linguistic characteristics of the word you’re trying to remember. This can be sound, spelling, etymology. Find what your word rhymes with, associate the sound of the word with its meaning, or research exactly where it comes from.

3. Chunks of Language Instead of individual words, the idea is to study chunks of language, that could be short sentences or little phrases that you can use. So instead of “hungry” you’d learn “I’m so hungry, I want to eat” or instead of “where” you’d learn the whole phrase “where is the bathroom?”. For your question of abstracts, this can be helpful because you now have a full sentence to write down and something that you can sing to yourself.

4. Find examples of the concept in music and art

The forgetting curve: humans tend to halve their memory of newly learned knowledge in a matter of days or weeks unless they consciously review the learned material.

Thank you to Wesley for this episode introduction in Persian.

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• The Fluent Show: How to Increase Your Vocabulary so You Can Talk about Anything
• The 6 Best Techniques for Learning Vocabulary by Fluent Language
• German Uncovered | Fluent Language
• Happiness - Deca Joins | Shazam — 快樂
• Learn German in Berlin: Exclusive Retreat
• The Vocab Cookbook

Thank you to Bonnie for this episode introduction.

Support This Podcast
Like all podcasts, the Fluent Show is supported by your online reviews and word of mouth.

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

For a deep dive into growing, memorizing and reviewing your own vocabulary so you can make any word memorable, check my course Your Solid Vocab Memory

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• LangFest 2019 — Get 15% off with promo code KERSTIN
• Kerstin's 3 Steps for Learning Topical Vocabulary by Fluent Language
• Drops | Play with your Words | Available for 32+ Languages
• How To Create The Best Vocabulary Learning Technique In Any Language by Fluent Language
• Bilingual Books | Languages
• FlashSticks French Beginner Post-it Notes Box Set (600 words) — from Amazon UK
• Langenscheidt Deutsch für polnische Pflegekräfte
• S4C - Y Fets

“Should I Give Flashcards Another Chance?”

The way I learn vocabulary is always changing, and my methods and strategies evolve all the time. For many years, learning with vocabulary notebooks was my prime way of reviewing new words. But there are also other techniques, and recently I’ve started using a flashcard app, Smartcards+.

I review vocab with

• Labels
• Lists (hand written and regularly reviewed and condensed)
• Flashcards

I have never used

• Hand-written flashcards
• Anki

Source Of Vocab

These places above are not always where I find Vocab, and it’s a huge success factor to bear in mind that in a way a list or app is your worst source unless the item is super rich.

One of the biggest reasons I haven’t used flashcard apps was the quality or relevance of the pre-written courses. Compare learning in class, in real life, in an engaged environment, to just seeing a plain word in a list. It’s arbitrary, and not everyone likes that.

Memrise

Memrise does really well when you take one of their official courses. Partly because it does exactly that rich thing well, with videos from Membus. But there’s also a bit of low quality fluff on this platform and I’m sad not to see so many mnemonics anymore.

Mnemonics

In this episode, I use the word "anghysbell" to illustrate how mnemonics work.

Recall

I don’t care if I can’t recall a word. I’ll see it very often if it’s relevant and important. Again, apps can be an issue here if you get bothered by seeing the same irrelevant term again and again. I do. In my Vocab lists, I am in charge.

And being in charge of your own learning is everything.

Activate

Learning and recalling new Vocab in a list or flashcard is nice. It’s pointless if you cannot use that word though.

Conclusion: Vocab is not Language

Really, we're worrying about a small part of the whole here. Sometimes I feel frustrated because the new wave of apps tells you “learn a language” when really you’re "learning words and phrases".

You need to learn a language over time and keep throwing new things in.

Sponsored By:

• Smartcards+: Smartcards+ is a smart and user-friendly flashcards app. Download flashcard decks, make your own, and then just review and go while the app tracks your language progress. Check it out for free on any iPhone or iPad.

Links:

• The Vocab Cookbook on Amazon
• The Vocab Cookbook in my online shop
• Clairefontaine 141820C 11 x 17 cm Koverbook Lined and Margin Wire Bound Vocabulary Book: Amazon.co.uk: Office Products — A vocabulary notebook
• Memrise
• Magnetic Memory Method — If you're into the "remember everything" memory palace thing
• How To Create The Best Vocabulary Learning Technique In Any Language by Fluent Language

In this episode, you'll

• learn about the difference between conscious and unconscious language acquisition.
• discover how to learn vocabulary so you always remember it
• and the right learning plan for getting that language skills back.

Check out The Vocab Cookbook for more about the vocab method Acquire, Memorize, Review.

Tips For Starting A Re-Learn Plan

If you used to speak the language as a child

1. Increase your exposure to as much as you possibly can get (films, music, youtube, consider if you can read/write?) - especially if you first learnt as a kid, because your unconscious skill is likely high
2. Consider whether you need all 4 core skills. If you want to recover language levels as they were when you were 4 years old, chances are you’re thinking of a time when you were pre-writing. So focus on that speaking and listening, and all will be well. If you get there and then discover that you’re missing something, move on from there and consider the new knowledge
3. Reconnect with the language community, or a language community (community is so important especially if you used to learn, and now you’re feeling like you are on the outside)
4. Get yourself a grammar resource, but only use it when you need it

If you previously learnt as an adult

1. Consider what you liked and what worked for you last time, and recreate the conditions for success
2. Go with the exposure as well, though you may not ‘reactivate’ as much
3. Do follow a textbook, but skim as much as you can
4. Speak as soon as you can, with a patient partner on a large range of
   

Sponsored By:

• Smartcards+: Smartcards+ is a smart and user-friendly flashcards app. Download flashcard decks, make your own, and then just review and go while the app tracks your language progress. Check it out for free on any iPhone or iPad.

Links:

• Unconscious language learning | University of Cambridge
• The Vocab Cookbook
• Use It Or Lose It? Study Suggests The Brain Can Remember A 'Forgotten' Language -- ScienceDaily
• The 5 Golden Rules of Adult Language Learning by Fluent Language
• 2 Strategies for Relearning a Dormant Language
• First steps toward a usage-based theory of language acquisition : Cognitive Linguistics
• Lost In Translation: A Life in a New Language: Amazon.co.uk: Eva Hoffman: 9780099428664: Books — Related book recommended by Shannon (Eurolinguiste)