Lesson Transcript

Intro

Peter: Does learning a language feel like… in one ear and out the other?
Chigusa: And do you have trouble remembering all the words and grammar rules?
Peter: Well, you should know that it's completely normal to forget...
Chigusa: ….but there are simple, proven ways to boost your memory….
Peter: ...and remember all of the language that you learned....
Chigusa: So you can finally feel like you're making progress...
Peter: ...and master your target language.
Chigusa: Welcome to an episode of Innovative Language Sunday News! I'm Chigusa and I'll be hosting today's Sunday News with my co-host, the founder of InnovativeLanguage.com... Peter Galante!
Peter: Hi everyone! Peter here!
Body
Chigusa: Alright, Peter, so before we get into the tips… I think many language learners often wonder… Why do we forget what we learn so quickly?
Peter: That's a great question, Chigusa. Before I answer it... I think once you understand "why we forget," you'll never approach learning the same way again. You'll become a better learner; you'll start remembering more… and you’ll learn the language faster.
Chigusa: Okay, I like the sound of that.
Peter: Alright, so to answer, kind of anticlimactic, it's just how our brains work. We'd like to think we’re computers, right?
Chigusa: Yeah… It would be nice if they were! Where you hear something once and it stays there forever.
Peter: That would be nice. But our brains unfortunately are not like that. Nothing like that in my case. So, anything you learn, hear for the first time — it goes into your short-term memory...
Chigusa: ….which is short-term? So it won’t last long, right?
Peter: Exactly, because your brain is always trying to understand… what information is important and what’s not. And if it’s not life-or-death important…
Chigusa: You forget it.
Peter: Studies show you forget around 70% of what you learn in a day. So, as a rule: expect that you'll forget it.
Chigusa: Wow. I guess that’s why cramming for tests doesn't work.
Peter: Or why you don’t remember anything after a test. But, on the bright side Chigusa, it also means that studying a language for hours isn’t always a good thing. And I say bright side because many people shy away from language learning because they’re worried it’s going to take a lot of time…
Chigusa: Yeah, I think most imagine having to sit down for hours with a textbook…
Peter: But more good news, you shouldn’t even do that if you want to learn a language.
Chigusa: So, how do you make things stick?
Peter: Well, now that you know how quickly we forget, there's no point in studying one thing for hours, right? It's better to come back and review for just a few minutes a day… every day.
Chigusa: So, then, if you want to remember, that's what you should do?
Peter: Exactly. That’s what moves things from your short-term memory… into your long-term memory. And you do that by repetition and practice. A little bit each day.
Chigusa: Okay, I got it. so let's do a quick recap
Peter: One: If you learn something for the first time, expect that you're going to forget it. That's natural.
Chigusa: Two: If you forget words, it's because the neural connections in your brain are still weak.
Peter: Three: To remember it, you'll need to come back to repeat and practice. That's when those connections get stronger…
Chigusa: And that's when the language goes into your long-term memory.
Peter: So, listeners, here's how you can remember everything you learn… with our system.
Chigusa: Number one: Take our audio and video lessons.
Peter: In every lesson, we repeat the conversation 3 times… so you remember it better.
Chigusa: And all the words, phrases, and grammar rules that you learn in lesson 1…
Peter: … .you'll see them again in future lessons—to reinforce your memory.
Chigusa: And that ongoing repetition in our lessons...will help you remember everything better.
Peter: Number two: Download the dialogue tracks…
Chigusa: ...which give you just the conversation in the target language. No translations.
Peter: That way, you can play native conversations as much as you want, until you know them by heart.
Chigusa: Just listen to them like you'd listen to music on your smartphone.
Peter: You can also relisten to old lesson dialogues that way… without having to retake the whole lesson.
Chigusa: Number three: Take our assessment exercises.
Peter: One of the best ways to remember more… is to test yourself.
Chigusa: When you try to remember what you've learned… listeners, that's when you're flexing your brain.
Peter: That's when our memory improves. It’s called active recall, and something we talked about in a previous Sunday News.
Chigusa: So test yourself often with our assessments
Peter: And you'll find them inside our Recommended Learning Pathways.
Chigusa: Number four: Use our spaced repetition flashcards to learn words.
Peter: Spaced repetition is designed to improve your memory.
Chigusa: These flashcards quiz you on words…
Peter: ...and space them out so that you see them one day later, then 2 days later, then in 4 days…
Chigusa: ...and as a result, you'll remember them better.
Peter: It's hard to remember to come back and review certain words…
Chigusa: But the flashcards do it all for you.
Peter: They quiz you on words at the right time so that you don't forget them.
Chigusa: Number five: Practice speaking and or writing daily.
Peter: Come back to a lesson that you took the day before, and practice that dialog a few times.
Chigusa: And do that same dialog over the span of a few days. Say it out loud, or write it out.
Peter: Using the language will help you remember it better. And if you practice a dialogue in multiple ways… like reading it, then saying it out loud, then writing it out… this is called interleaving - a learning tactic where you mix up your practice approach. This helps you remember better.
Chigusa: Peter, this is why you have the 50% input, 50% output rule, right?
Peter: Exactly. Just hearing or reading is not enough. It's only half of the equation. You won't remember it as well...if you don't produce the language… with speaking or writing.
Chigusa: Number six: Ask yourself questions like….
Peter: What did I learn in this lesson? What was the main grammar point? How do I say this phrase in my target language?
Chigusa: Asking yourself questions…. And answering them… is another way of testing yourself…
Peter: ...which helps you remember everything better.
Chigusa: And you can also ask your Premium Plus teacher for help… if you can't answer a question.
Peter: Number seven: Get a notebook and take notes.
Chigusa: And come back to review the notes.
Peter: This is actually my favorite. So, listeners, take just one tip from the ones we gave right now…
Chigusa: ...and do it every day.
Peter: Remember, you'll remember the language better by practicing and reviewing a little bit every day.
Chigusa: ...and not by cramming for hours and hoping it sticks.
Peter: And if you want our bonus routine-building calendar PDF...
Chigusa: ...so you can build a routine and remember to come back every day to practice….
Peter: Leave us a comment, and we'll leave the link.
Chigusa: And remember.
Chigusa: If you want to master your language with our complete language learning system...
Peter: Here’s your last chance to get 35% OFF on all Premium and Premium PLUS Plans.
Chigusa: And listeners, if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed with learning a language….because there’s too much to do: grammar, reading, writing, speaking, listening...
Peter: With our system, You get one simple path to follow. From lesson 1 to 2, to 3... all the way until the end.
Chigusa: Just follow the path, learn with real lessons by real teachers...
Peter Our teachers explain every word and grammar rule and get you speaking in minutes.
Chigusa: You can learn anywhere, anytime and on any device - on your smartphone or computer.
Peter: You get powerful Study Tools to master words, grammar, and conversations fast.
Chigusa: And with Premium PLUS, you even get your own personal teacher.
Peter: So get 35% OFF Premium or Premium PLUS, before this sale ends tomorrow.
Chigusa: If you're on the site...Click on the link in the comments section right now.

Outro

Chigusa: Okay, well, that's going to do it for this edition of InnovativeLanguage.com Sunday News!
Peter: Bye everyone!
Chigusa: Thank you for listening, and we'll see you all next time.

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