Other methods to learn foreign vocabulary words

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:55 pm

What other methods are there to learn vocabulary words? Is anyone using some bizarre new method? I use my Finnish School which works okay, but my retention rate isn't so good. After I learn the word I need to begin to use it in sentences immediately and that isn't always possible.

**Sponsor:**

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:12 pm

How to improve your memory for words by 35% :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1870763.stm

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:26 pm

And I'm not a gum chewer, now I know why I suck at vocab words.

Andrew_S · Post by **Andrew_S** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:44 pm

Adverts, songs and rhymes can help the memory (and less boring).

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:59 pm

See "Memory performance impaired after even a few hour´s missed sleep" :

http://www.memoryzine.com/MF.htm

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:24 pm

Learn phrases not words... makes more sense and it is a more efficient way to learn. Learn phrases that are meaningful to you. Don't bother with the stuff like the "blackboard eraser is heavy" as you could go through your whole life and never need to use it... learn phrases you know you will be able to use.

graham · Post by **graham** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:55 pm

What?

You don't find yourself exclaiming that the blackborad eraser is heavy on a daily basis?

jmbullet · Post by **jmbullet** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:26 am

I really dunno how to do it with Finnish, but maybe you should find some Finnish interviews of your favourite Finnish artists...with subtitles in english... I've learned english this way, and I'm trying to learn Finnish this way too....but try to get Finnish The Rasmus interview with french subtitles lol...... IMPOSSIBLE !!!!!!

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:15 pm

"What other methods are there to learn vocabulary words ? "

Try to see something familiar in the word you want to memorize.

To memorize the word "väkivalta" ( violence ) think about the nonstop cartooned wacky violence in many Walt Disney movies ! ( this certainly sounds silly but it will work ! ) Try to see Walt Disney as "Wacky Walt" , a forerunner of "Wacko Jacko" ( Michael Jackson ) !. Then you add the first letter of the alphabet ( very easy to remember ! ) to "wackywalt" ( väkivalt ) and you will get "väkivalta".

Repetition is also very important. You must think about the word "väkivalta" ( and how you memorized it ) several times during your day : What was that wacky word again ? Oh yes, it started with "väki"...

What do you say ? Was that too wacky for you ?

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:49 pm

Using mnemonics to link words :

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTIM_10.htm

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:59 pm

Sometimes it is easier to remember words if you memorize them like this ( in a group of similar words ):

pakana = pagan

lakana = bed sheet

takana = behind

Lakanan takana on pakana = There is a pagan behind the bed sheet.

nainen = woman
punainen = red

ääntää = to pronounce
kääntää = to translate

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:52 pm

How I memorized the French word "abattoir" ( slaughter house ):

The Swedish pop group ABBA is giving a concert in a slaughter house :aba

There is a lot of death in this place : tt ( two crosses )

Suddenly the lights go out and and it is pitch black : oir ( the French word for black is "noir" )

http://memory.uva.nl/memimprovement/eng/elaboration.htm

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland