“I have learned new words, but I have forgotten them quickly.” Is this something you find yourself saying? If it is, don’t worry it is completely normal. As we get older, our memory changes. In this article I am going to suggest some strategies that can help.
You’ll also see examples of the present perfect (to talk about experiences and things that started in the past and continue now) and the past perfect (to show that one past action happened before another past action). You have probably already noticed that I like to add specific grammar points to my articles. In this one I will highlight each example by using bold print. So let’s begin.
Connecting New English Words to Your Everyday Life
I always think a great way to remember a new word is by connecting it to your everyday life. Our brain remembers things better when they are personal. If you only write a word in your notebook, you might forget it the next day. Instead if you use the word in a real situation, you would probably remember it more easily. Many of my students say to me “I have often remembered words more clearly when I connected them to my daily life”.
For example the word “appointment”. My life seems to be full of appointments, The Dentist, The Chiropodist and The Doctor. I’m sure you are the same so you might find yourself saying. “By the time I got to the doctor’s office, I had already practiced the word ‘appointment’ several times, so I remembered it”.
Repetition
I am sure that repetition is another method you use to learn new words. Repetition is useful, but not if you only write a long list of words and repeat them. If you speak, write and listen to a word, you give your memory more chances to hold onto it. So if you try this you may find yourself saying “I have written new words in a diary, I have said them aloud, and I have listened to them online”. Or “Before I joined an English class, I had only repeated words in my head, and that is why I often forgot them”.
When you do use repetition to learn new words it is better to do it little and often “I remembered more words because I had reviewed them for 10 minutes each day instead of one hour once a week”.
Short and Targeted English Practice
Short, regular practice is more effective than long, occasional study sessions. So I recommend you try this rather than long weekend sessions. “I have used the little and often method for months, and I have noticed real progress”.
It is also a good idea to group words by themes. If you learn random words you might confuse them. Grouping them into categories gives you a clearer picture. “I have grouped words by topic, and I have found it much easier to recall them later”.
Using Your Imagination
I always encourage my students to be inventive and use their imaginations when learning. Our brains love imagination. For example If you only try to memorise the word umbrella from a list, you would probably forget it soon after. But if you imagine an elephant holding an umbrella, you are far more likely to remember it. This may sound strange but making these connections in your mind can be really effective. “I have remembered many words because I created silly pictures and short stories”.
We can also use all our senses as a memory tool. Learning is stronger when you connect words with touch, taste, sound and smell. “I remembered “Pineapple” easily because I had tasted one at the same time as saying the word”.
This method is particularly useful when learning adjectives like “noisy” or “soft”. “I have remembered “noisy” because I walk along this busy street everyday”.
Using Learning Technology Effectively
In our modern world technology is now being used extensively as a learning aid by people of all ages. This is especially true for language learning. So if you are an older person who feels overwhelmed by technology my advice is don’t fear it instead try to embrace it. Spaced repetition apps are a great way to learn new words.
You enter the information you want to remember into the app. It then helps you remember the information by showing it to you at carefully timed intervals. We tend to forget things if we don’t review them, but if we review just before we are about to forget, the memory becomes stronger. “Before I discovered spaced-repetition apps, I had wasted hours reviewing long lists with little success”.
As I have shown, using technology can be very beneficial but you might be someone who prefers to do things in a more traditional way. For example, many people like to write a personal diary. If this is something that you do then you can develop this into a learning resource. I have students who do this and here are two of their comments that I remember. “I used “delicious” in my diary because I had cooked a new recipe the day before”. And, “I have written diary sentences almost every evening, and they have helped me recycle my vocabulary”.
There are numerous spaced repitition apps available to download for free on your smartphone so try out a few. Personally I like Anki which is open-source and fully customizable, so you can setup or import your own word decks for specific groups of words, categories or learning goals.
Practicing with Real People
Finally I am going to talk about what I think is the best way to learn new vocabulary and this is practicing with other people. I understand that finding other English learners can be difficult for many people. One solution could be to reach out to other students online. “I have practiced with friends online, and I have noticed how much easier it is to remember vocabulary when I use it in real conversation”. When you speak with others, words move from passive to active memory.
Another solution could be to look for English classes in your local area. “When I spoke with my classmates, I realized I had remembered more words than I had expected”.
Thirdly you could sign up for online English lessons with an experienced tutor who will help you practice with structured conversation classes.
So it’s now time for me to finish. I hope that you find these tips useful. Finally, always remember that learning vocabulary as an older learner may feel difficult, but it is possible. If you review regularly, connect words to your life, practice with others, and use all your senses, you will notice improvement.
Grammar Points: Present Perfect vs. Past
Perfect Present Perfect (have/has + past participle)
We use the present perfect to talk about:
- Life experiences (without saying exactly when)
- Things that started in the past and are still true now
- Recent actions that connect to the present
Examples from the article:
- I have remembered many words because I created silly pictures and short stories.
- I have written diary sentences almost every evening, and they helped me recycle my vocabulary.
- I have grouped words by topic, and I have found it easier to recall them later.
Past Perfect (had + past participle)
We use the past perfect to talk about:
- An action that happened before another action in the past
- To show “what happened first” in a past situation
Examples from the article:
- Before I joined an English class, I had only repeated words in my head, and that is why I often forgot them.
- I remembered “Pineapple” easily because I had tasted one at the same time as saying the word.
- When I spoke with my classmate, I realised I had remembered more words than I had expected.
