#1 Do Less
In school we learned to study like crazy the day/night before an exam studying.
This seemed like the fastests way.
But science proves this method actually takes more time.
In one experiment[1], researchers asked two groups to learn a poem.
You can see that one group took a lot longer.
But why?
The answer is: Breaks.
While both groups rested and took breaks, group A took short breaks (lasting for one hour each), and group B took long breaks (lasting for 2 days).
Years ago, when I was looking for a job, I read some advice about interviewing.
The articles said when you schedule an interview try to be the first person or the last person.
Because if you’re in the middle, they’ll forget you.
This is called the “primacy and recency effect.”
See the peaks in the graph? That shows how your memory is stronger in the beginning and at the end.
When you do English for 90 minutes once a week, you get just two peaks.
But when you do English once every day, even if for just a few minutes, you get 14 peaks!
TIP #1: Do less, but more often
#2 Don’t Waste Time On Words You’ll Never Use
When I moved to Prague I packed my printer.
It was heavy, and my suitecase was small, but I pushed it in there because I wanted to be prepared.
“Maybe I’ll need it,” I thought
Then when I got to Prague I discovered my language school had a printer I could use.
So I didn’t need my printer.
It was a waste.
I brought it…
–just to be prepared–
It’s the same with words.
In school we memorize a list of 30 animals. Then you go to a restaurant in London and you order the same chicken salad you always get.
So why did you spend time learning the other 29 words?
You did it…
–just to be prepared–
And when you open your business English text book and learn a list of words, you’re doing the same thing.
Instead of wasting your time again – just to be prepared – talk about what you need to talk about, your business for example, and when you discover you’re missing a word…
THEN find it and learn it.
TIP #2: Learn it when you need it
#3 Press Your Brain’s “Save” Button
I’m typing this on Microsoft Word and every few minutes it automatically saves what I write.
Your brain is the opposite.
It automatically deletes.
I read once that we see 5,000 advertising messages every day.
Imagine if you remembered them all…
You’d go crazy!
So, in fact, it’s a good thing we don’t remember everything.
The challenge is, how do you tell your brain, “Hey, this isn’t a car commercial! I want to remember this!”
One way is through repetition.
If you see a word, hear a word, use a word, think about a word again and again, your brain gets the message, “Do not delete!”
Repetition is your brain’s “Save” button.
If you suddenly discover that for years you’ve been saying “today morning” instead of “this morning” then…
- write it down
- look at it every day (until you learn it)
That’s why you absolutely must keep a journal.
Think of it this way: whatever you want to forget, don’t write it in the journal.
And in 24 or 48 hours it’ll be in your mental trash can next to the 5,000 advertisements
TIP #3: Keep A Journal