Learn words 3 times faster
Retain words 90% longer
No more learning by rote!
Proven method – Atkinson & Raugh
James Harvey
Comedy Improv and Dance facilitator, IT Pro and Coach
My aim is to provide a method of learning which anyone can use, that not only makes words easy to remember, but is presented in a manner which is engaging, comical and highly effective. I learned Indonesian using this method and I love being able to share it with you.
Link new words to words you know
How much = Berapa
Imagine at the market you want to know how much for the sarong but you can’t hear because of the rapping bears. How many bear-rappers are there?
Later = Nanti
Imagine you are excited that later you will go to your Nan’s for Tea and have Nan-Tea.
Will = Akan (Pr: Ah-kaan)
Imagine you are at an airfield and you will learn to fly, then you can tell everyone “Ah I can”.
Beach = Pantai
Imagine you go to the beach and everyone has a pan around their necks. You ask someone and they explain it’s the new fashion beach wear called a Pan Tie.
In/ At/ On = Di
Imagine you are in trouble deep when you forget to leave your tax return on the table at the Tax Office.
Research Results
Retention
88% Words retained using the method
27% Words retained learning by rote
Studies carried out by Atkinson & Raugh showed for learning Spanish – the results were 3 times better than learning using traditional methods. (Full PDF)
Recall
50% Better immediate recall
75% Improvement longer term
Other tests showed a considerable improvement in immediate recall. The associations used were very simple and still the results were marked.
Resources
Don’t try so hard
MIT Study A study from MIT shows that trying harder can actually make some aspects of learning more difficult. Most of us recognise that Children have a far easier time learning languages than Adults (and of course some researchers with lots of time on their hands...
