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Ian Wilde 講師のコラム

A thought for the day! - Word Association

2023年9月10日

A thought for the day! - Word Association

"Language is like a tapestry of words, woven together by the threads of culture and history. Just as French sounds like 'romance,' and German feels 'precise,' let the rhythm of words guide you through the linguistic maze. Spanish dances like 'fiesta,' Mandarin speaks with 'characters,' and Russian, with its 'Cyrillic' script, whispers tales of 'matryoshka' dolls. Explore these linguistic landscapes, and you'll discover the world's hidden treasures, one word at a time."

Word association is a powerful memory technique that can be used to remember language names and words. To make it effective, you can create vivid mental connections between the language names and familiar words or images. Here's a method to use word association to remember language names and words in just 20 minutes a day:

Step 1: Choose a Language and a Familiar Word

  • Start by ing a language you want to remember, let's say "Italian."

Step 2: Find an Associative Word

  • Think of a word in your native language that sounds similar to the name of the language or has a connection to it. For "Italian," you might choose "Pizza" because it's strongly associated with Italian cuisine.

Step 3: Create a Visual Association

  • Now, create a mental image that links the language name to the associative word. Imagine a giant slice of pizza with the Italian flag colours (green, white, and red) as its toppings.

     

    Step 4: Review and Repeat

  • Spend a few minutes each day reviewing the language-name-associative-word connection. Visualize the pizza and think of the word "Italian" while doing so.

Step 5: Expand Your Vocabulary

  • Once you've mastered one language, you can expand your vocabulary using the same technique. For example, if you want to learn the word "hello" in Italian, visualize a friendly Italian chef holding a pizza and saying "Ciao!" which means "hello" in Italian.

Proven Methods for 20 Minutes a Day:

  • Set a Consistent Time: Dedicate 20 minutes each day to practice this technique. It's important to be consistent and do it at the same time if possible, such as before or after breakfast.


  • Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the language name on one side and the associative word or image on the other. Review them during your daily 20-minute session.


  • Practice with Audio: Listen to native speakers pronouncing the language name and the words you're learning. Hearing the sounds will reinforce your memory.


  • Group Languages: If you're learning multiple languages, group them by similarity in your mind. For instance, if you're learning Italian, Spanish, and French, associate them with "Pizza," "Spanish guitar," and "Eiffel Tower," respectively.


  • Consolidate Weekly: At the end of each week, review all the language-name associations you've learned during the week. This reinforces your memory.


  • Use a Language Learning App: Complement your word association technique with a language learning app or course. These tools provide structured lessons and exercises to build your language skills.

Remember that language learning is a gradual process, and this word association technique is a fun and creative way to start building connections in your mind. Over time, you can combine it with other language-learning methods for more comprehensive language acquisition.

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