Hack Your Memory to Memorize SAT and GRE Vocabulary Words - Page 2
These speech makers would do everything possible to build vivid images into their head to memorize the process of their entire performance. And it worked. Thousands of years later, this exact brain science still holds true. If you want to memorize something, don’t just look at it on a list; connect it with other concepts you already have in your head, and connect it to other new information .
When you’re studying for SAT or GRE vocabulary words, DON’T just use flashcards. When you look at simple text-on-paper, you’re not doing much to create associations. You’re only connecting the word on the front with the definition on the back - a “one-link connection” that won’t stick. Instead, try connecting the word and its definition with other concepts you already understand and have deep within your memory. For instance, if you’re trying to remember the definition of the word “denude,” which means “to strip bare,” imagine an image of the Earth wearing pants made out of trees. Suddenly, a bulldozer comes out of nowhere and rips off the Earth’s “tree pants.” The earth has become nude because it has been “denuded,” or stripped bare, by the bulldozer.
The key here is really to imagine this happening. Don’t just read those words - think about this happening in your head. Imagine the sound of the trees crunching underneath the bulldozer. Imagine the embarrassed look on the Earth’s face when he realizes he’s been denuded, or stripped bare. Imagine the Earth’s bare leg, underneath the tree....you get the idea!
By bringing in as many associations as possible, you’re creating a more useful memory map in your head. Regardless of how you study, just remember: you need to create CONNECTIONS in order to create permanent, lasting memories.
Whether you’re studying GRE vocabulary words, LSAT facts, or words for your Spanish quiz, make use of the fact that your brain is a network, not a dresser drawer. If you can create associations between what you already know and feel with the things you’re trying to memorize, you’ll get a lot further a lot faster - and you might just have fun doing it!
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