- Use Mnemonics: Mnemonics are techniques that help you remember information by linking it to something else. For example, you can use an acronym or a phrase to remember a list of items or numbers.
- Stay Active: Regular exercise can help improve memory and cognitive function. Exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells, which can help with memory retention.
- Sleep Well: Getting enough sleep is essential for good memory function. Sleep helps consolidate memories, allowing your brain to process and store information effectively.
- Pay Attention: To remember something, you need to pay attention to it. When trying to remember information, focus on it and avoid distractions.
- Practice Repetition: Repetition is key when it comes to memory retention. Reviewing information repeatedly helps to strengthen the neural connections in your brain, making it easier to recall later.
- Use Visualization: Visualizing information can make it easier to remember. Try to create a mental image of the information you're trying to remember, as it can help with memory recall.
- Reduce Stress: Chronic stress can damage brain cells and interfere with memory function. Take steps to reduce stress, such as practicing relaxation techniques or engaging in enjoyable activities.
- Keep Learning: Challenging your brain with new activities and learning experiences can help improve memory function. Take up a new hobby, learn a new language, or take a class to keep your brain active.
Memory is an essential aspect of our daily lives, from remembering simple tasks to complex concepts. However, as we age, our ability to remember things tends to decline. The good news is that there are ways to improve your memory, and here are some tips to help you do so:
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Learning a new language can be a rewarding and exciting journey, but finding the time and opportunity to practice can sometimes be challenging. However, with a bit of creativity and a commitment to regular practice, you can incorporate language learning into your daily routine. In this blog post, we will explore five convenient ways to practice a new language that can fit seamlessly into your busy lifestyle. Language Exchange: Join language exchange platforms or find a language partner online. Engaging in conversations with native speakers of your target language can significantly improve your speaking and listening skills. You can set up regular virtual meetups or language exchange sessions where you spend half the time speaking in your native language and the other half practicing the new language. Audio Resources: Make the most of your commuting or downtime by listening to audio resources such as podcasts, audiobooks, or foreign television. Listen to content in your target language and try to understand as much as possible. You can also repeat phrases, mimic pronunciation, and practice speaking along with the audio to enhance your speaking abilities. Language Learning Communities: Join online language learning communities or forums dedicated to your target language. These communities provide a space for language enthusiasts to interact, share resources, ask questions, and practice their language skills. Engaging with fellow learners and native speakers can provide valuable feedback, support, and motivation throughout your language learning journey. Labeling and Immersion: Create a language-rich environment in your daily life. Label objects around your home or office with their corresponding words in the new language. This simple technique reinforces vocabulary and helps you make connections between words and their meanings. Additionally, immerse yourself in the culture and media of the language you are learning. Watch movies, TV shows, or read books in the target language to improve your comprehension and cultural understanding. Practicing a new language doesn't have to be a time-consuming or overwhelming task. By incorporating these convenient methods into your daily routine, you can make consistent progress in your language learning journey. Remember, even short bursts of practice can make a significant difference over time. So, seize those spare moments and transform them into valuable opportunities for language learning. Start today and enjoy the joy and benefits of speaking a new language fluently.
Being bilingual means having the ability to speak two languages fluently. It is a valuable skill that comes with numerous benefits. Here are some of the most important advantages of being bilingual:
I love imagination. We all have the ability to create a picture of our dreams and ideas and then by imagining them, create them. “Thoughts do become things”. Language learning works really well with imagination – it’s easy to imagine sitting in one of our favourite places overseas and talking and laughing with the locals. Or we are sitting at our family’s kitchen table learning to cook a special cuisine with grandmother or aunt. The problem is that as we start actually doing the learning, our conscious mind gets involved in the process and tells us what it thinks we can and can’t do. (These thoughts are often the result of our years at school.) BUT if we spur our imagination with belief, desire and expectancy and train it to visualise our goals so that we can see, feel, hear, taste and touch them, we will get what we want. My challenge for you this month is to stimulate your imagination. If you don’t have a picture of yourself speaking your new language fluently – create one NOW. Focus on what you want with your language – focus on where you are speaking your language – what you are hearing and seeing - focus on how you feel - and before every tutorial or online lesson, spend a few minutes imagining what it will be like. Once you are smiling and getting excited about your picture, you are ready to begin learning. Try this for a few weeks to create your new habit and share with the VLLC student community how it is impacting your lessons.
Let your imagination become your new reality. Jo Ammerlaan Can you remember the last time you met someone in the street that you know and you forgot their name? You are usually with someone and feel rude not doing an introduction. Your mind goes into a panic searching for the name – which you get - as you are walking away. OR You are having a language assessment and the tutor asks you what your name is in your new language and you can’t answer – you have no idea where the information is…..even though you have said it EVERY tutorial since you started. Often information is on the tip of our tongues, but we just can’t access it in the moment. The following is not scientific – it is my subjective experience, but it may resonate with you. I imagine my mind like a filing cabinet. Everything I have seen, heard and learned has been filed in the correct drawer, but when I am stressed or putting pressure on myself – T-H-E—D-R-A-W-E-R-S—S-T-I-C-K…….when I am relaxed the drawers open easily and smoothly. So the secret – as with everything – IS TO RELAX. Don’t put more pressure on your brain to remember – trust that the information is there and that you are able to recall it. Another strategy I use is to ask myself a specific question: What is the Italian word for xxx? What is that person’s name? Then relax…..It will pop into your mind a few moments later. IF you want quicker recall, you need to learn to put your body and mind into a state of relaxation quicker. (This is the subject for another blog).
Try these tips for words you forget in your new language and let me know your experience. Happy learning Jo Watching a foreign movie in your target language is a great way to expose yourself to your foreign language. While you probably won’t understand everything (especially if it’s a war movie), you will begin to develop an ‘ear’ for your language. You don’t even have to buy them because there are plenty online. Try and find a series of a common ‘soapie’ as they have very predictable and everyday language. You will be hearing the words spoken at normal speed and acclimatizing yourself when you visit your target country. Be wary of watching foreign language films with subtitles as it will just become a reading exercise and subtitled or dubbed films may lose a lot in translation. Reading a foreign language newspaper can also help you discover idiosyncrasies of your target country. Highlight all the new words and look them up. But then make sure you create your own sentences to incorporate your new words into your language. Go to http://newspapermap.com/ to see articles in all target country languages. Try reading children’s books in your new language and you may find you can comprehend a lot more language as they are easier to understand especially if the stories are known to you. Be wary of the classics as you may not know the words for prince and princess which abound in these books. The Hungry Caterpillar for example is available in many languages. Reading illustrated children’s books really works well with VLLC’s learning method of picture sound association. Singing songs in a foreign language is another great way to learn phrases, language and culture. You can Google nursery rhymes in foreign languages and more modern songs. Hearing popular songs from Eurovision is also another idea. You can learn a lot about foreign foods, culture and language by eating out at authentic ethnic restaurants. Not only will you enjoy the tastes specifically related to your target country but you will also experience menus written in foreign language and allow yourself to get used to the various national dishes of that country. Try talking to the wait staff in your new language and try cooking some of these foods at home. Label objects in your house in your new language- put post it notes on your furniture, with a note on your fridge asking – What do you want to eat? This allows you to practice your new language every day. Don’t get discouraged at the beginning stages. The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Keep taking steps every day towards your fluency and enjoy your language journey.
The benefits of bilingualism on the brain of the speaker are plentiful. Studies have shown that speaking a second language slows down the deterioration of the brain in aging, can help to delay the onset of dementia and boosts executive function. Studies have explored the relationship between bilingualism and working memory. Working memory involves the information that can be processed ad retained by the brain in relation to immediate tasks. It is essentially at play when an individual is following instructions, understanding an argument or solving a math problem. Learning and speaking a second language demands a strong working memory function, as switching between languages, formulating ideas within a different language and translating thoughts all require the ability to retain and spontaneously process immediate information.
Studies compare the working memory of small children with a range of tests, involving for example the recollection of a set of numbers or the repetition of those numbers backwards. Children who spoke a second language revealed better results than their monolingual counterparts, as well as exhibiting an ability to manage a heavier cognitive load. Similar studies have been performed with adults, yielding similar results. For those questioning the benefits of bilingualism, evidence such as this reveals the significant effect it has on the fitness of the brain. Working memory is an crucial function for processing information and responding to the world across all areas of life. Keeping this function fit and well-trained is essential, and what better and more engaging way to do it than with a second language? References Yang, E 2017, 'Bilinguals' working memory (WM) advantage and their dual language practice', BrainSci vol. 7, no. 7, p. 86. 2018, 'The advantages of a bilingual brain', BBVA Open Mind, 26 April. Taking language lessons is one thing, but you can only develop your skills when you practice your new skill each and every step of the way. This blog will give you some ideas that you, as a language student, can use to establish your skills. As we all know, there’s a difference between having a goal of learning a language and making it a reality (this is no different to all of our goals). I think the conscious competence ladder illustrates the process of developing your new skill really well. The conscious competence ladder is a series of 4 stages that begin with you being in a state of ignorance to you being able to use your skill on a subconscious level. Think about some of the skills you already have such as: driving a car, bike riding, skiing, reading – then think about how you got to that point.. I guarantee that at first it was really awkward and difficult, but all of a sudden it became SUBCONSCIOUS…….. Noel Birch, an employee with Gordon Training International, developed the Conscious Competence Ladder in the 1970s. So how can you get your language to the unconscious competence level?
1 The first stage of the process of all learning is Unconscious incompetence – I call this stage blissfully ignorant as we don't know that we don't have this skill, or even that we need to learn it. We have no awareness about the skill and no appreciation of how much we may need to learn. Often at this stage, when we discover what we DON’T know about a subject, we can get disheartened and even give up. The length of time an individual spends in this stage depends on how strongly you want to learn. So keep your eyes focused on the end result - speaking your new language; imagine that you are using your new language in a real environment and get excited about the outcome. Begin investigating ways that you can achieve your language goal. 2. Conscious Incompetence– we know that we don't have this skill. Though we don’t understand or know how to do something, we recognize what we need to learn, as well as the value of learning this new skill. This level can sometimes be demoralizing and cause you to lose confidence. It’s important to stay positive and focused on achieving your new goal. The journey of 1000 miles starts with one step – focus on putting one step in front of you – learn one new thing at a time… don’t try and learn everything simultaneously. 3. Conscious competence– we have acquired the skill and knowledge we need and are able to put our knowledge into practice. However, it still requires a lot of concentration and there is heavy conscious involvement in using your language. To move through this level requires practice and the opportunity to use your skills as often as you can. In language development – this is the time to go in country and practice your language there. 4. Unconscious competence – we don't know that we have this skill (it just seems easy).The new skill is now "second nature" and can be performed easily and SUBCONSCIOUSLY. One of my favourite sayings is: “repetition is the mother of all learning…..” but it is really important to use repetition with intention and passion (or energy), not mindlessly, without thought…. So when you are using active learning… it generally takes 7-9 repetitions to move something from the conscious mind to the subconscious mind. “When we practise something, we are involved in the deliberate repetition of a process with the intention of reaching a specific goal. The words deliberate and intention are key here because they define the difference between actively practising something and passively learning it.” – Thomas Sterner, The Practising Mind. Passive learning creates knowledge. Active practice creates skill. A couple of ideas for you are:
Stop thinking and start doing and enjoy the process… Your language journey will open your mind to another world. I was reading from a great site on the Better Health Channel and thought I would share their tips about how to reduce stress over Christmas. Christmas is typically one of the most stressful events of the year. The expense of buying gifts, the pressure of last minute shopping, and the heightened expectations of family togetherness can all combine to undermine our best intentions. Some practical suggestions can help you reduce your 'Christmas stress' and enjoy the true reason for the season. Budgeting for Christmas For many of us, the Christmas aftermath includes massive credit card bills that can take months to clear. Christmas doesn't have to be a financial headache if you plan ahead. Stress reduction strategies include:
Presents If you have a large circle of extended family or friends to buy gifts for, it can be very costly. You might be able to reduce the stress and cost of Christmas for everyone if you suggest a change in the way your family and friends give presents. For example, you could suggest that your group:
Christmas shopping According to a recent study by Roy Morgan Research, around 60 per cent of Australians dislike Christmas shopping, just 20 per cent plan their shopping expeditions, and the majority of us (nearly 75 per cent) often come home without a single purchase for our efforts. Stress reduction strategies for successful Christmas shopping include:
The Christmas lunch (or dinner) Preparing a meal for family and friends can be enjoyable but tiring and stressful at the same time. Some tips to reduce the stress of Christmas cooking include:
Relationships Stress, anxiety, and depression are common during the festive season. If nothing else, reassure yourself that these feelings are normal. Stress reduction strategies include:
The little extras Other ways you might be able to reduce the stress include:
General health and wellbeing
Some other ways to keep your stress levels down include:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/christmas-tips-to-reduce-the-stress Speaking a second language comes with many benefits. Opening doors to travel, better self-expression and the ability to connect with various cultures are only a few. But, beyond these, being bilingual or multilingual comes with a range of benefits on the individual’s brain, making language learning a practice that is beneficial to the health of the mind. Here are some ways learning a second language benefits the brain: 1. Executive Function. Psychologists have tested for the differences between monolingual and bilingual people in completing activities related to executive function. It has consistently been shown that bilingual individuals are able to multitask with ease, switching between tasks more fluidly and efficiently. Their attention is stronger, with bilinguals even being able to focus on particular voices or sounds within noisy environments with much more ease than monolinguals. Concentration and response times are boosted by the bilingual brain. 2. Cognitive fitness. Speaking more than one language has been shown to slow the cognitive decline that comes with aging. Using diffusion tensor imaging, scientists have shown that the brains of older bilingual people have more white matter of a higher quality than their monolingual counterparts. 3. Learning. As a result of the improved executive function and sensory processing of bilingual brains, learning a second language boosts the individual’s ability to learn in general. The bilingual person is likely to process information more efficiently and integrate with existing knowledge more effectively. Once you learn one language, learning the next one is significantly more straightforward. Being bilingual benefits our cognitive function significantly, developing our executive function, slowing aging and assisting our learning. To boost your brain health, learn a second language… or a third!
References Wichmann, A 2022, ‘How Being Bilingual Affects Your Brain’, Greek Reporter, 28 July. Marion, V & Shook, A 2012, ‘The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual’, Dana Foundation, 31 October. |
AboutThese blogs are about learning a foreign language and how utilising that skill can help to keep your mind active and assist with your cognitive function. Archives
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