How to Learn a Language with a Bad Memory, by Olly Richards on YouTube. 15 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 15 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes a day
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Choose 10 to 15 new words from something real you are reading or listening to. Write each word on a card with the full sentence you found it in.
Give every word a hook: a picture in your head, a sound-alike, or a personal memory. A word tied to an image or feeling is easier to recall.
Cover the meaning and test yourself out loud before you check the answer. Struggling to remember, then checking, builds a stronger memory than rereading.
Review the same words today, tomorrow, in three days, in one week, then in one month. Keep the cards in a box or an app that shows what is due.
Use three of the words in a short paragraph or in spoken sentences about your own life. Producing a word yourself fixes it better than reading it again.
Mix old and new words in one session instead of drilling a single topic. Switching between words forces your brain to work harder to find each one.
Run a five to ten minute review before bed and get a full night of sleep. Sleep is when new words get stored.
Explain five words to a friend, a pet or a voice memo as if you were teaching them. Saying the meaning in your own words shows what you really know.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not learn more than 15 new words a day; a small set you review beats a long list you forget.
Recognising a word when you see it is not the same as pulling it out of memory, so test from meaning to word as well.
If you miss a day, just pick up where you left off; one skipped review will not undo your progress.
Questions
How many new words should I learn a day?
Around 10 to 15 is plenty for most people. The regular reviews matter more than the number of new cards you add.
Can I learn a language if my memory is bad?
Yes. Forgetting is normal, and planned reviews are what make words stick, not a natural gift for memory.
Do I need a flashcard app?
No. Paper cards in a box work well. An app like Anki simply handles the review dates for you.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
