The Magnetic Memory Method Podcast

Hey, it happens.

We’ve all forgotten a name.

Where we left our keys.

Whether or not we locked the front door.

But there’s a difference between mild forgetfulness and more serious memory problems like memory loss.

And mild forgetfulness is particularly vicious because it can creep up on you. In fact, it could be biting up parts of your brain as we speak.

But it’s not the same as memory loss, which is what we really need to focus on curing.

And to help you out, here are five signs of serious memory loss problems you need to take seriously:

 

1. Asking The Same Questions Over And Over Again

 

This is a big warning sign that you have memory loss problems. You might even be suffering from one of the big memory loss diseases like Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

It’s not just that you’ve forgotten the answers to the questions.

You’ve even forgotten that you asked the question before.

If this happens to you or someone points out that you’ve been asking the same question multiple times, please get it checked out.

No shame in having the problem. Just something that needs attention.

 

2. Getting Lost In Well-Known Places

 

This problem can occur at any age. It’s not necessarily a sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia, either. It could be a sign of fatigue, dietary problems or thyroid issues.

But if you find yourself getting lost in places you’ve been in many times before (including your home), you know that it’s more than well-warranted to get yourself to the doctor.

 

3. Inability To Follow Directions

 

No, I’m not talking about rebellion.

I’m talking about literally not being able to understand and execute.

We all have this from time to time. Sometimes, the instructions are to blame.

But other times, it’s a sign of serious memory loss.

 

4. Experiencing Confusion About Time

 

It’s normal to forget the day of the week every once in awhile.

But if it becomes a common occurrence, you need to do something about it.

Not only that, but you can use a Memory Palace to help ensure that you always know what day of the week it is. Here’s how:

Look at the wall nearest your bed.

Imagine it has seven quadrants.

In each quadrant, place an image. For example:

Monday = the moon

Tuesday = a can of Tuna

Wednesday = a weathervane

Etc …

Having a mnemonic calendar like this will make the days of the week more memorable for you as such. But to know for sure, you can imagine crossing out a huge X over the can of tuna before going to bed on a Tuesday.

Or you can do something even more imaginative, like seeing it smashed by the weathervane that represents Wednesday.

In this way, when you wake up, you can think of what happened before you went to sleep on your mnemonic calendar. That will instantly remind you of the current day. And this works just as well for young people as it does for people coping with age related memory loss.

Having a mnemonic calendar is also one of many great brain exercises that will help you keep sharp.

 

5. Not Taking Care Of Yourself

 

Seriously. Some people forget to eat, bathe and otherwise take care of themselves.

I know this problem well from the periods when depression has crushed my memory so heavily my hygiene went down the drain.

It sucks and if it happens to you, get it checked out.

 

8 Simple Cures For Memory Loss And Forgetfulness

 

The good news is that people are winning the battle against memory loss and forgetfulness. Here are 8 things you can do starting today that will give you the upper edge in the battle against these critical memory problems.

 

1. Learn A New Skill

 

Seriously.

Juggling, piano, simple sketching. Anything you can find will help. I’m currently learning more about video production and photography while learning Chinese. The improvements to my memory are noticeable on a daily basis.

 

2. Volunteer

 

It could be at a school, community service office or church. It really doesn’t matter what, so long as it’s with other people and you genuinely feel happy about helping others. These kinds of experiences create powerful new memories that will last a lifetime while exercising your brain.

 

3. Spend More Time With Friends & Family

 

Be honest. You’re not getting enough face time with the people that matter. And it’s killing your memory.

Get out your calendar and cell phone now. Make the call. Book a time. Your memory will thank you for it.

 

4. Put Your Wallet, Keys & Glasses
In The Same Place Every Time

 

Look, I can teach you how to remember where you put objects in the house. But sometimes it’s good to give your memory some relief.

That’s why instead of imagining explosions every time you set your keys down, you can take the pressure off your memory by dedicating a spot for these easily lost items.

 

5. Get More Sleep

 

Easier said than done, to be sure, except …

It is easy if you set a computer curfew.

Seriously:

Shut the machine down at the same time every day. Read a book. Play a game. Get in bed. Rest your #memory.Click To Tweet

I like to spend about 5 minutes wandering a Memory Palace and sometimes exposing myself to something new before turning out the lights.

However, I read a study recently that older people get less memory consolidation than younger people during sleep. Nonetheless, the additional exposure to information can’t hurt – AND those studies are still relatively new.

Point being:

Get off the computer and get more sleep. It’s good for your brain and memory.

 

6. Exercise, Hydrate & Eat Well

 

There’s nothing that helps improve memory better than having a healthy brain sitting in a healthy body. There’s no doubt that walking, pushups and other forms of fitness provide great memory benefits.

And it’s a no-brainer that eating foods that improve memory like salmon, blueberries and walnuts are far better for your memory than pizza, chocolate bars and foods bursting with bizarre preservatives. Get rid of the junk and enjoy memory friendly foods.

Drink tons of water too. Studies show that just a touch of dehydration shrinks your brain and harms your memory.

Who wants that?

7. Ditch The Booze

 

I haven’t touched alcohol for over a year now (except for a bit that touched my tongue by accident at a party).

I used to drink a fair amount, but in the last year, the benefits for my memory are really just the beginning.

Not drinking has contributed to losing a lot of weight and feeling better all around.

 

8. Get Help If You Feel Depressed

 

Not a lot of people know this, but even a mild depression can cause memory problems.

For that reason, don’t be shy or embarrassed to reach out for some help.

In fact, doing all of the above almost guarantees that you’ll never get depressed.

But wait! There are more cures for memory loss and forgetfulness. Introducing …

 

Why Do Memory Loss Problems Take Place To Begin With

 

Now, before we get started, you might be asking yourself …

Why do these memory loss problems take place in the first place?

Lots of reasons. It could be that you’re reacting to a new medicine – or an old one that has started compounding elements in your body.

Seasonal or contextual depression might be in play.

You might be lacking certain vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Perhaps you’ve had too much alcohol.

Blood clots or tumors might be growing in your brain from a health issue or injury.

Or other parts of your body might be affected.

 

The Ultimate Cure For Memory Loss & Forgetfulness

 

For most of us, we’re fit enough that we don’t have to worry that our health is affecting our memory.

We don’t suffer from Alzheimer’s.

There are no vascular issues causing dementia.

We’re not boozing or vitamin deficient.

So why then do we struggle with our memory abilities?

 

The Answer Is Simple

Lack of memory exercise.

Yes, it is a must to see a doctor if you have any of the memory problems I’ve listed above.

But if it’s just general lack of memory ability we’re talking about, then I’ve got just what the doctor ordered.

The Magnetic Memory Method doctor, that is.

I do hold a Ph.D., after all. Although I am making no medical recommendations of any kind, I can tell you this:

Nothing has boosted my mood more than using memory techniques and experiencing the raw power of recall.

Seriously.

This morning my wife woke me up with a simple request:

To sing a Chinese poem she’d taught me.

Which one? I asked.

Yes, I’ve memorized more than one.

Quickly.

Efficiently.

In ways that make me happy. Boost my confidence. Are ridiculously fun.

In fact …

It’s Impossible To Be Depressed When Using Your Memory!

 

So if you’d like to experience the cure for memory loss and forgetfulness yourself, I urge you to scroll up and enroll in my free memory improvement course.

You’ll learn the best way to use create and use a Memory Palace. Having one of these easy to make memory tools will let you learn, remember and recall anything.

And it’s the ultimate memory improvement exercise, especially since I teach you exactly how to make sure that you’re memorizing the information that matters in your life.

Then again, you probably already know exactly what would make a huge difference if you could remember it now, don’t you?

Either way, giddy up and sign up for my FREE memory improvement course now.

Enjoy and until we speak again …

Keep yourself Magnetic! 🙂

Sincerely,

Anthony Metivier

The post The Most Important Difference Between Memory Loss And Forgetfulness In The World appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.


Ever hear that crazy phrase, “knowledge is power”?

Sounds kind of cool, right? But have you ever asked yourself …

 

What The Heck Does That Silly Cliche Mean?

 

Well, “power,” it turns out, is an interesting concept. Especially when it comes to memory and memory improvement.

To begin, understand this:

People have defined it thousands of different ways throughout history.

Ever since I discovered it in university, I’ve always liked Michel Foucault’s definition. He’s a philosopher who you should check out sometime.

Don’t worry if you think philosophy is boring. Foucault didn’t dally around. He gets right down to defining it in many books. For Foucault, power amounts to “the ability to conduct the conduct of others.”

Now, let’s be honest:

 

Who In Their Right Mind Wouldn’t Want A Taste Of That?

 

And let’s be clear:

When it comes to memory improvement and using memory techniques as a way of life, that’s what we going for:

Power. Exactly as Michel Foucault defined.

Why?

Because if you’re using memory techniques to help you learn a language, guess what?

Speaking a language “controls” what others think. Just like my words are controlling what you think now.

Controlling what you’re thinking, feeling, deciding to do next.

And more than that …

 

Power Is Productive

 

It produces the next action in line.

When it comes to the power that using memory techniques creates, think of it this way:

If you’re using memory techniques for numbers so that you can quote SKU numbers at work or cite aspects of the law, you’re instantly better at controlling how your colleagues work with you.

Pretty neat, huh?

Well, hold on now, because it gets even better.

Because there are a lot of things about memory you probably don’t know.

And all of them will give you more power.

Which equals more control.

Particularly over the most important person in your life you need better control over.

You.

So with all that in mind, let’s get started:

1. Memory Loss Starts At A Much
Younger Age Than Most People Think

 

Sad, but true.

We have this image that memory loss starts when you’re forty or older. Worse, we project the idea that struggles with memory belong to the elderly or people with Alzheimer’s.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Long before the age of digital amnesia, scientists knew that memory struggles begin already in our mid-20s, if not earlier.

And the more people relegate their memory activities to smartphones and computers, the more younger people start experiencing memory problems.

Don’t Blame The Machines For Everything!

 

Of course, we can’t just blame the machines or the questionable fact that they don’t teach learning and memory techniques in schools. (They do.)

This is what’s more important:

We’re exposing young people to information they don’t care about.

Want to help the young person in your life learn how to discover exactly what they care about to help guide their studies? Make sure you listen to the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast for the link to the listener only audiobook, The Ultimate Memory Improvement Secret.

I promise. That book will help.

And then giddy up on improving your memory. No matter how young and spry you think you are now, memory loss is always around the corner.

 

2. You Change Your Memories Every Time You Remember Them

 

I love that scene from Lost Highway.

For two reasons:

A) It exposes a fundamental truth about human behavior.

B) The whole movie is about how memories change merely by recalling them.

And it’s true.

Every time you remember something, you’re engaging in an exchange of chemicals.

You know this, right? Your mind is produced by your brain: soft, squishy material made up of all kinds of nutrients and acids.

The kind of stuff that aliens probably love to eat. 😉

And in that pool of chemical substances, sit your memories. Your memories are part of that stuff, not different from it.

Every time you access one of them, it’s like putting bread into a toaster.

Chemical change.

And, as you know, bread that has been toasted ain’t never going back to being bread again. It’s different now, and different it shall remain.

 

3. Your Memory Is More Like A Neighborhood Than A Computer

 

Not only are your memories made of physical material, they are also dispersed like multiple spheres in a pinball machine.

Think of it the way Gary Small suggested when I interviewed him on the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast.

He explains that the computer metaphor for the human brain and memory is false.

Instead, your brain is like a series of neighborhoods, bigger and more complex than the biggest cities of the world.

And every time new information enters your “memory city,” it doesn’t book a room in a hotel someplace and wait patiently to be called for a business meeting when you need it.

Instead, the information is broken up and sent into many different homes in many different neighborhoods.

 

The Businessmen Your Memory Slices And Dices Everyday

 

Think of it like this:

Say that you learn a German phrase like, “Ich möchte mir etwas kaufen, aber ich weiß nicht was.” (I want to buy myself something, but I don’t know what.)

If that phrase was a businessman, your memory wouldn’t store him altogether in the same place.

Instead, it would take his hat and put it in one home in one neighborhood of your memory.

Then, in an entirely different neighborhood, your memory would deposit his briefcase. And that neighborhood might be just around the bend, or it might be hundreds of thousands of miles away.

And the division keeps going, taking each arm of the businessman to a unique location. It might even be the case that each individual toe goes to its own home in a variety of different neighborhoods.

 

Sounds Complex, Doesn’t It?

 

Well, that’s the miracle and challenge of memory. Next time you struggle to recall something because you’re missing a part (like a last name when you have the first name), understand that this is why:

Your memory stored the first and last name, just not necessarily in the same neighborhood of your “memory city.”

And this is why memory techniques are so fantastic, especially for remembering a lot of names at events:

When you use a Memory Palace, and particularly the Magnetic Memory Method, you’re rigging the game in your favor.

You are literally requesting that your mind store the information in a more compact way. You are creating connections that put you in control of information storage in ways that no computer can beat.

 

4. You Cash In On Your Memories Overnight

 

I know, I know, you’re tired of hearing about how important SLEEP DEFICIT page is for your memory.

I’m sorry. Get used to it. Nothing could be more important for your memory.

I’ve experienced a lot of sleep deficit over the past few years due to traveling the world in search of new Memory Palaces. I can tell you one thing:

Nothing hurts your memory more than exhaustion.

Why?

Because even with the most powerful memory techniques in the world, memory “consolidates” during sleep.

It seems to be related to the same way that we experience muscle growth during sleep. Work out all you want in the gym, but if you’re not putting in the snooze time, you’ll never see anything like the results you want.

 

Does Memory Consolidation Work If You’re Old?

 

Recent research shows that sleep consolidation might not be nearly as important for memory as an adult as it is for a younger person.

But in my own experiences as someone now in his forties, I can tell you that I still feel a huge difference. I’ve also done experiments with changing when I memorize Chinese vocabulary, and I do seem to have much stronger recall when I use the Magnetic Memory Method at night, rather than the morning.

Here’s the real kicker, though:

Practicing your memory first thing and before you go to bed.

WINNING!

5. Technology Can Augment Human Memory, But Also Harm It

 

Some of my friends think I’m a Luddite.

After all, I didn’t update my iPhone 4s until 2017. And even then I never used it as a phone anyway. It’s a computer for reading and writing.

All things told, all my devices are good for memory in certain contexts and I appreciate having them.

But we’re killing our memory abilities in so many ways. I talk about this a lot on my post about digital amnesia, so I’ll step off my soapbox for now.

Just please understand that we need balance in our life and that’s why vinyl records are so popular, not to mention physical journals (I recommend The Freedom Journal).

 

6. Repetition Can Be Fun

 

Most people don’t know this, but rote learning does have a fun button written into its code.

No, that’s a lie. Rote learning is always a crime against humanity.

If you have to repeat anything a zillion times or you’re bombing through flash cards without at least the assistance of some mnemonics, you’re doing it wrong.

No exposure to information should be without excitement. And every memory activity you engage in should CREATE energy, not CONSUME it.

Think of that the next time you repeat something mindlessly with the hope and the wish and the prayer that it will stick in your memory.

Remember: power is productive.

If rote learning and spaced-repetition software give you your jollies, rock on.

But if you’re sick of hammering your brain with same information and having it drain you of enthusiasm, get out into the real world and use a Memory Palace and the rest of the Magnetic Memory Method instead.

7. Human Memory (Probably) Has No Limits

 

People often think that their memory is like a sponge. If they bring in new information, they ask, won’t it squeeze the old stuff out?

The answer is no.

Memory is nothing like a sponge and there is no metaphor of “storage” or “absorption” that fits the bill.

It’s also important to understand that when we use the word “memory” we are mushing together all kinds of different memory?

There’s no way we can use them all up. And if you have a good Memory Palace technique by your side, here’s the thing:

You can ALWAYS find a building you’ve never been in before.

Get out your Memory Journal, make a quick sketch. Chart out your Magnetic Stations. And then use them to memorize some information.

Bang Presto.

It’s easy, fun and you don’t have to be a world traveler to do it. I’ll bet there are at least ten cafes and restaurants you haven’t been to in your city or town that would make glorious Memory Palaces.

You don’t even have to spend money in them to create your Memory Palaces. You could just go during off hours and tell them what you’re doing. Most will be okay with that.

If Not, Just Move On …

 

And if you don’t like restaurants or cafes, go to movie theaters. Go to libraries. Museums. Churches. Even well-structured parks can serve if you’re into outdoor Memory Palaces.

The point is to not trick yourself into thinking that you’re running out of Memory Palaces.

That can’t and won’t happen.

That’s called “Memory Palace Scarcity, ” and sadly it stops many people cold in their tracks.

Don’t let it happen to you.

 

8. You Probably Remember Less From
Ebooks Than Physical Books

 

I’ll bet you love Ebooks.

I know I sure do.

The problem is …

You’re much less likely to remember information you read digitally than from physical books.

Why is this? Well, you can check out the research for yourself, but I have a pet theory.

And the theory is more than the obvious points that information is “located” inside of books in a way that it cannot be inside a computer.

In other words, it is probably useful to your memory that you know on a conscious or subconscious level that a piece of information was 1/4 or 3/4 of the way into a book. The location of the information within the physical space of the book is a kind of memory hook.

You don’t get that feeling in an Ebook, even though devices like Kindle will show you a percentage to give you a sense of progress.

I also don’t think it’s just about the physical differences between holding a book and holding a digital reader. Those elements are important too, but far more critical it seems to me is this:

 

Your Brain Is Chemical

 

Your brain is chemical. Books are chemical. And computers are chemical too …

And yet somehow … I don’t know how to explain it. And I’m happy to be dead wrong, but I just think we are at a strange remove from “digital ink” that doesn’t exist when you’ve got a book in your hand.

It may have to do with presence. The best way I can think of to explain it is to relate books to vinyl records. Check out this cool video from Vinyl Eyezz to expand your thinking on the matter. Then go buy something physical.

 

 

9. Memories Can Be Manufactured

 

Just as each memory transforms ever time you recall it, you can be compelled to create memories that never happened.

There are a lot of angles to this problem, some of which fall under the title of false memory syndrome.

But I think it’s more complex than that – and quite possibly sinister. For example, look at this seemingly innocent manufacturing of memory regarding a hot air balloon experience:

Then imagine that the cops have accused you of committing a murder.

Scary stuff, right?

Well, now that you know about this problem, you can fend off any threats that might emerge around it in your life.

And the best thing for it is to train your memory so that you’re starting off strong in the first place if trouble ever arises.

10. The First Memory Palace Probably
Comes From The Buddha, Not Ancient Greece

 

I love the story of Simonides of Ceos. It not only demonstrates just how easy it is to remember stories, but the story itself contains all the traits of what makes a story memorable.

But here’s the thing:

The idea of “location-based mnemonics,” (the sexier, but more accurate term for the Memory Palace technique) predates Simonides by a long time.

For example, many yogic and Buddhist rituals involved using parts of temples to recall passages of rituals. You might imagine a bridge in one corner of the temple, for example, and a black dog in another.

Then, during your meditation, you would mentally “visit” these Magnetic stations in the temple Memory Palace and decode them as part of completing the meditation.

Sure, they didn’t call it a Memory Palace and probably didn’t think of it as a memory technique.

But that’s what’s going on beyond a doubt. And the best part is that when you understand this relationship between space and memory, the role of churches of all stripes throughout history becomes much clearer.

Stations of the Cross, anyone?

 

11. Stories Filled With Emotion Are
The Easiest Information To Remember

 

Yesterday I ate a sandwich. It was good.

… not very memorable, is it?

Of course not.

But what if I told you that yesterday at 11:49 p.m., I was so ravenously hungry that a furious rage overtook me.

I hopped into a tank I stole from the local military and drove it through the wall of the nearest McDonald’s.

Then, with a wave of my magic wand, I made my mouth so big that I could fit all the food in the restaurant into my mouth.

I’m talking EVERYTHING. I vacuumed it in like I was the Hoover Vacuum King of Fast Food.

Then I burped a strawberry vanilla-scented wind that put the police in a relaxed state so that they turned around and went to the nearest Buddhist temple to meditate about bridges and dogs.

Stupid story, I know, but it’s a heck of a lot more memorable.

Why? Because it’s got emotions in it:

The NEED of hunger.

The ANGER of irrational aggression.

The EXCITEMENT of magic.

The WEIRDNESS of dream logic.

And all those elements mixed together make bland information much more memorable.

Go ahead and try it.

Pump a reminder into your phone for later today: What was Anthony’s story at the end of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast?

Take a moment to jot it down.

Then come back and compare notes.

I’ll bet your 85-99% accurate in your recall.

Here’s What’s Even Better:

 

You can apply that same, emotion-based zaniness to even the most deadly boring information in the world.

And so long as you know how to create a Memory Palace and use Magnetic Imagery to encode and decode the information through the Recall Rehearsal process …

Power! Sheer power!

And power in the positive senses we’ve been talking about.

So listen …

There’s no need to struggle with bad memory anymore. In fact, no one has a bad memory. People who suffer from forgetfulness just don’t know enough about the miracle of memory.

But now you do and the future is wide open and bright for more discovery about your memory and your mind.

Get out there and have fun and until next time … Keep yourself Magnetic! 🙂

The post 11 Empowering Things About Memory You Probably Do Not Know appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

Direct download: 11_Empowering_Things_About_Memory_You_Probably_Do_Not_Know.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 6:38pm EDT

Guest post and podcast narration by Lukas Van Vyve.

Have you ever wished you had the ability to memorize information in real time?

Believe it or not, you can. Interpreters do it all the time. They listen, understand, memorize, translate and speak – all at the same time.

Impressive, right?

Conference interpreting is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

In fact, research shows that conference interpreting is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. One study put the stress levels experienced during interpreting on about the same level as those of an air traffic controller! Go figure.

 

How To Succeed In Conference Interpreting
Without All The Stress

 

However, people who wind up with great conference interpreting jobs were not born with these skills: they developed their abilities by learning and practicing specific techniques. If you’d like to do the same, pay attention because I’m about to show you exactly how it works.

 

1. How One Simple Test Will Strengthen
Your Memory And Boost Your Fluency

 

Here’s the single most important thing you can learn from conference interpreters:

They focus a lot on flexibility.

You see, no matter how good your memory is or how many words you know, sometimes you’re going to forget something or wind up stuck looking for words. It even happens in your mother tongue!

Interpreters know that if you want to boost your fluency, you need the flexibility to retrieve at least something to say from your memory in every situation.

The good news: this ability to remember is something that can be trained! Even better, if you’re already a conference interpreter, you can continue learning and potential boost your conference interpreting salary!

 

How To Hear The Future As A
Conference Interpreter Before It Happens

 

One way interpreters go about this is by making it a habit to guess what a speaker is going to say next. That buys them time to think of a good translation. Now you know why your interpreter friends are always finishing your sentences!

As annoying as that habit might be, exercises in which you anticipate words might be the key to increasing your flexibility.

The most important exercise used by interpreters to train this skill is the cloze test. This exercise is fantastic, and I use it all the time.

How To Close In On The Cloze Test
For Maximum Memory Results 

 

So how does the cloze test work? You get a sentence with certain words blanked out. It’s your job to fill in the blanks with an appropriate word (or word group). That word can be anything, as long as the sentence makes sense and is grammatically correct. An example:

David wants to ____ a table for 5 tonight.

Answers:

David wants to book a table for 5 tonight.

David wants to reserve a table for 5 tonight.

David wants to make a reservation for a table for 5 tonight.

David wants to make a call to the restaurant for a table for 5 tonight.

David wants to ask if you’ve booked a table for 5 tonight.

… and so on …

You get the point.

Try to come up with as many appropriate answers as possible. The more you can find, the more flexible you are in speaking a language!

 

The Truth About What Really Improves Your Fluency

 

Here’s another reason I really like this exercise:

It builds flexibility by teaching you how to take advantage of context. In this regard, it relies a lot on your association powers. The better certain language patterns and structures are ingrained in your brain, the easier words to fill in will come to mind. That translates to improved fluency.

However, there’s more. What really makes the cloze test stand out for me is that it shows how context can be a mnemonic for learning words or expressions!

 

Context: The Ultimate Conference Interpreting Equipment
That Sits In Your Awareness (Priceless!)

 

To give you a basic example: whenever someone says “Thank you” to me, I’ll immediately, without even thinking about it, respond “You’re welcome!” Just hearing these words triggers my memory and gives me the appropriate response.

The association between those two phrases became so strong that they act as a mnemonic for each other.

If you’d like to take advantage of the cloze test to memorize vocabulary and use context as a mnemonic, I found that the easiest way to do that is by making flashcards (physically, or use an app like Anki (link)). Here are the steps:

1. Make a flashcard with sentences in the language you’re learning.
2. Blank out the words you want to memorize and add them at the back of the flashcard.
3. Review your flashcards and try to guess which word would fit in the sentence. Try to experience the situation described in the sentence as vividly as possible! Read it out loud, visualize it, feel it.
4. Every time you review the flashcard, the connection between the context and the word you’re learning will become stronger!

My experience is that learning vocabulary this way works wonders. Incorporate this in your language learning routine, and you’ll start seeing the benefits in no time.

2. Flexibility 2.0:
How These 4 Improvisation Techniques
Help Conference Interpreters Remember Translations

 

Ever started a sentence in a language you’re learning and gotten completely stuck because you couldn’t think of a certain word? You go blank, start stuttering. Maybe you even decide it’d be better to just shut up until you become more fluent.

Interpreters feel your pain. They’ll often hear words in a speech that they understand, but for which they don’t have a translation readily available. Shutting up because of a cognitive overload is no option, though: your audience is counting on you for an accurate translation!

Experienced interpreters have learned how to work around this and always remember a suitable translation. How? You guessed it: by working on their flexibility.

In this case, to increase flexibility, interpreters rely on improvisation. Let’s go through some of the tricks they use, that might come in handy for you as well!

• First of all, if you don’t know a word, just try to find a description with words you do know. For example, a ‘civil servant’ could be described as ‘someone who works for a state’s administration’.

• Second, you could also just use something opposite. Instead of a ‘civil servant’, you could say ‘someone who doesn’t work in the private sector’. Most of the time people will understand what you mean soon enough.

• Third, use a more general or more specific word. For example, if you can’t think of the word ‘car’ you could say ‘means of transport’ or ‘vehicle’. Or you could go more specific and say the brand of the car (‘Ferrari’).

• If nothing else works, assess how important the word really is to your story. If you want to say: ‘Yesterday, I went to the cinema by car. It was a great movie’, is ‘by car’ really important? If not, leave it out so you can continue the conversation.

There you go: 4 techniques to make sure you always remember an appropriate translation. Use them to never get stuck while speaking a foreign language!

 

Interpreter Memory Booster Bonus:

 

These techniques are extremely useful while learning vocabulary as well. Whenever you see a word, apply the techniques mentioned above. You’ll instantly make associations with synonyms, opposite words and examples which will make the words stick so much faster!

3. How Interpreters Use Their Memory to
Understand Words They’ve Never Even Heard Of Before

 

The previous point showed you how you could use improvisation if you understand the meaning a word but can’t remember the translation. Sometimes, though, you won’t even understand the word and have absolutely no clue about what it could mean.

So how do you react when you don’t understand a word during a conversation in a foreign language? Do you panic? Do you start looking so hard for the right translation that the rest of the conversation becomes background noise?

This isn’t an option when you’re interpreting. Your audience expects you to understand everything, and make them understand as well!

So what do you do? A good interpreter will stay calm, keep listening and try to make sense of the word. How? By using two things: context, and their memory.

But wait, that doesn’t make sense, right? How can your memory help you understand a word you’ve never even heard before?

It’s possible, if you’ve already built a strong memory connection in your mother tongue between the meaning of this word and some other words in the sentence.

 

Tap The Mind Of A Panic-Free Conference Interpreter

 

Let me explain by telling a story.

I once had to interpret a German speech that dealt with the salt concentration in the Adriatic Sea. The speaker kept talking about the cycle of ‘kondensieren’ and ‘verdunsten’. Now, kondensieren (condensate) is self-explanatory, but I’d never heard from ‘verdunsten’ before. The pressure was high: after a few minutes I had to interpret the speech and I had never heard from one of the keywords of the speech!

However, I stayed calm and relied on the memory connections I’d already made with the word ‘condensation’. In high school, I’d learned (in my mother tongue) about the cycle of condensation and … evaporation, of course! That was indeed the meaning of the word verdunsten. I was saved!

What’s the moral of the story here? Your brain is smart and capable of making connections, if you don’t panic, keep listening and try to understand the context.

Rely on the memory connections you’ve already made in your mother tongue. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t understand every single word in a speech or conversation. Just dive in and try to understand the bigger picture. More often than not, the meaning of that one word you don’t understand will become clear automatically!

 

4. Why Conference Interpreters Memorize Everything
They Read or Hear, And How That Makes Them More Fluent

 

First of all, a word of warning: students of interpretation are usually rather skeptical about this in the beginning. I was, and you might be too.

Please hear me out! It’s more logical than you think!

Ask any professor of interpretation what makes a good interpreter, and most of them will give you the same answer. I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not amazing memory skills!

It’s not even perfect fluency in a foreign language.

The Most Important Thing About
Conference Interpreting In The World

 

There’s something more important: a broad general knowledge.

A good interpreter needs to be an excellent public speaker, in his mother tongue. Granted, he or she needs to understand a foreign language, but most of all he has to be able to explain things in his mother tongue in a coherent way, without making mistakes. For that, you need to have general knowledge and know a lot of words.

There are hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, and you can’t know them all. You don’t need to, either. Yet, working on your mother tongue and on your general knowledge will bring you so many benefits, not in the least when learning foreign languages.

We’re coming back to context here: the more knowledge of the world you have, the more you’ll understand in other languages as well. If you know a thing or two about a topic, you’ll only need to understand a couple of words from a conversation in a foreign language to know what it’s about.

I’ll give you an example: I’m in Italy right now and the country has just held a referendum on a constitutional change. It’s quite a big thing: everyone seems to be talking about it. I’m not a lawyer, but I read some articles on the referendum (in my mother tongue; my Italian isn’t that good yet) and memorized the basic facts.

Now, every time I hear an Italian say the word ‘referendum,’ I know what he’s talking about. There will be many words I don’t understand, but everything will make much more sense because I can rely on the information I’ve memorized before.

Interpreters are masters at this. They need to be versatile and ‘know a little about a lot’ because you’ll never know what the people you’re interpreting for will talk about. That’s why interpreters always keep learning to improve comprehension in any language. You should do so, too.

Oh, and if you feel like your general knowledge is lacking and you can’t remember basic facts, I’m sure Anthony has a cure for that 😉

5. How Conference Interpreters Mimic Others to
Improve Their Memory And Get An Amazing Accent

 

Interpretation puts enormous stress on the brain’s working capacity. After all, you’re listening to what a speaker has to say in a foreign language, trying to understand, translating and speaking in your mother tongue – all at the same time. Most new interpreting students – and most people in general – are not trained to do so many things simultaneously. The obvious result is a cognitive overload, and, quite often, miserable failure.

So how do you cope with that? Interpreters use a technique to learn how to listen and speak at the same time. If you’re into geeky language learning techniques, you might have heard of it already. It’s called shadowing.

What’s this all about? You listen to someone speaking and you immediately – with a couple of seconds of delay, that is – repeat what’s been said in the same language.

Doesn’t seem too difficult, does it? Well, give it a try: it’ll surprise you how even such an easy task can confuse you. Once you get the hang of it, though, you can start reaping the benefits.

How To Use Shadowing To Become
A Better Conference Interpreter

 

First of all, you’re improving your memory and focus. Shadowing will train you to listen and speak at the same time, and it will improve your short-term memory. That’s some excellent brain training you’re doing there.

Second, you can also use shadowing to familiarize yourself with a foreign language. In fact, this is the first exercise I use myself when I start learning a language. It gives me a huge advantage when it comes to pronunciation and listening skills.

If you want to try this exercise yourself, here are the steps:

1. Find a speech, podcast or other media in the language you’re learning. Take a slow one if you’re not that proficient yet! You could also slow down the video a bit with an app like Audacity.

2. Use headphones, but only in one ear: you want to hear yourself talk!

3. Play the audio and repeat immediately what’s being said. If you want to focus on pronunciation, stay as close to the speaker as possible. If you want to train your memory, you increase the delay to a couple of seconds.

4. That’s it! You’re listening and speaking at the same time. Now marvel at your brain’s capacities and see your memory and pronunciation improve.

Start with slow conversations or speeches (find language learning podcasts for example, or Youtube videos), and slowly work up your way toward materials at normal speed.

Then amaze native speakers with your flawless accent and listening comprehension.

One last piece of advice: do the exercise with audio only, so without reading a transcript at the same time. Using a transcript might be temping, but you really want to focus on memory and sounds only.

 

6. How Interpreters Use Memory Palaces
And Mnemonics to Memorize Speeches on The Spot

 

Nowadays, conferences mainly use simultaneous interpretation (with the interpreters sitting in a booth and instantly translating), and even consecutive interpretation (with the interpreter standing next to the speaker, translating after the speaker has finished) is usually only done in 5-10 minute chunks.

Back in the early days of the profession, though, the world’s best interpreters were interpreting speeches of 30-60 minutes long in one go.

Yes! Conference interpreters memorised speeches of more than 30 minutes, in one listening. Now those are some impressive memory skills!

Of course, these geniuses were no stranger to nifty memory techniques, including our beloved Memory Palace.

One of the founding fathers of conference interpreting, Kaminker, reportedly said the following about his memorization strategies:

Kaminker assigned each speech to a district of Antwerp that he could recall, in his mind’s eye, in all its topographical detail. He assigned each idea of the speech to a shop and thus by walking down the streets of his childhood he was able to recreate the speech. Check out the book ‘Naissance d’une profession’ for more info.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The famous polyglot Luca Lampariello, who studied translation and interpretation, talked about this at length during an interview on the Magnetic Memory Podcast as well (among other topics people interested in conference interpreting will want to discover.

Using Memory Palaces to learn a speech by heart is nothing new, of course. Even the famous Roman orator Cicero did it. Anthony and many others have talked about it as well.

Still, for, me, how interpreters do it is an inspiring showcase of the power of the Memory Palace. Mind you, these interpreters heard a speech only once, and that was enough to place it firmly in a Memory Palace and reproduce the full speech in another language immediately.

 

What About The Crazy Names Of People
And Conference Interpreting?

 

The same goes for remembering names, numbers and dates. If you struggle with those, imagine how much worse it would be in a foreign language, when instead of a John Johnson, a German name like Gerhard Düsediekerbäumer might show up. Or you interpret for a speaker that mentions a date in every other sentence.

Impossible? Of course not. Interpreters usually try to jot names, numbers and dates down during a speech, but you don’t always have the time. Moreover, many interpreter students seem to have difficulties with writing down figures, dates or percentages. And it’s not only forgetting: I even noticed that, even though I remembered the figures, I often remembered (and even wrote down) wrong ones!

One of the ways interpreters deal with this is just leaving out unimportant numbers. But hey, that’s not really professional, is it? A much better way to deal with this is using some basic memory techniques. After I started using mnemonics and the Major Method, I noticed a dramatic improvement in how well I remembered dates and figures.

I’ve connected each number to an image, and whenever I hear a number or date I just instantly connect the images. That way, when I’m interpreting after the speech, I will have the images in mind and will always remember the correct numbers!

The same goes for names: by using imagery (read and listen to Anthony’s teaching on remembering names at events here). it became much easier to remember difficult names.

 

7. How Interpreters Achieve Laser-Like Focus
& Instant Memorization by Listening The Right Way

 

I’ve saved this one for last, as it’s a bit more abstract than the other tips. Let me explain.

In the previous points, I’ve shown you how interpreters take advantage of improvisation, context, shadowing techniques, Memory Palaces and mnemnoicsThese skills will improve your concentration, but to achieve laser-like focus, you need more.

I, for one, often have difficulties paying full attention when someone speaks for longer than 5 minutes. I’m sure I’m not alone. When I’m interpreting, though, something changes. I think athletes would call it being ‘in the zone’. The beautiful thing? It’s actually possible to achieve this state, just by changing the way you listen.

 

The Core Secrets Of Analytic Listening For
Raw Conference Interpreting Power

 

First of all, you’ll need to learn to listen for ideas and for structure. In every sentence or paragraph, grasp the main idea (sometimes just one word) and you’ll be fine. Then go after the structure.

One of the first things you learn as an interpreter is to pay extreme attention to conjunctions (like AND, BUT, ALTHOUGH, HOWEVER,…). These mark events and twists in a text and are important for structure and for following the story.

Interpreters call this ‘analytic listening’. Write these structure words down along with one keyword per idea, and you’ll be amazed how much you remember after listening.

The Secrets Of Using Strong Imagery To
Make Even The Dullest Information Impossible To Forget

 

Second, you must make an extreme effort to imagine the speech you hear as vividly as possible. For me that includes mainly visualisation, others swear by auditory experiences or feelings. The more senses you use the better.

Anthony and other memory experts have been saying it for years:

To make ideas more memorable, exaggerate them to make them so absurd that you just can’t un-see them anymore.

Now, for interpreting, I find this a bit dangerous. After all, no matter the improvisation tricks you used to translate everything, you still need to convey the right message as the original speaker. When you start exaggerating or changing things in your mind, chances are you’re going to screw up and say things that are just wrong.

There’s another way, though. When I’m going to interpret a speech, I try to wonder all the time what’s going to happen, and I try to be genuinely surprised by the important facts. Yes, also if they’re super boring. Belgium’s GDP has increased by 0.2% last year?

Incredible! There was a local chess tournament yesterday, with 6 participants? What, chess, and 6 participants? I can’t believe it!

This works because you’re artificially adding emotion to what you’re hearing.

Good stories often use suspense and surprise to suck you in, right? And because you were so curious about what was going to happen next, you’re super focused and your brain absorbs everything you hear.

That’s why almost everyone can recount a fairytale like little red riding hood after hearing it only once.

This emotional connection is what you’re trying to emulate here. Getting in this state of curiosity makes your mind much more receptive and completely sucks you into a speech. When you’re in this state, you’ll get laser-like focus and memory so even the most boring facts will stick.

And emotions and story help with motivation when learning a language too.

 

Back To Basics?

 

So there you have it. 7 techniques that will give you conference interpreter superpowers and are all very applicable in everyday situations. Just try to incorporate some of the tips while learning languages, memorizing a speech or whenever you hear something you want to remember. You’ll never want to go back to a forgetful life again. Good luck, and let me know in the comments if these techniques were helpful to you!

Oh, and no matter where you’re at with your language learning journey, grab my Back to Basics guide now and learn how to set up or improve your language learning routine. You’ll also discover how to track your progress based on a clear overview of your goal language learning goals.

The post 7 Killer Memory Improvement Tips From The World Of Conference Interpreting appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.


No question about learning and memory enters my inbox more often than than “why aren’t these memory techniques taught in schools?”

The question reeks of conspiracy.

It creates pictures of entire nations hoping to keep their children in ignorance so they will become mindless slaves working for the state.

But worse than all of that paranoia …

The question is …

 

Completely Irrelevant!

First off, memory techniques are taught in schools.

I recognize this simple fact even if once upon a time I dropped out without a high school degree (part one of this three-part series) and mercifully figured out what to go back to school for (part two).

How are memory techniques already used in schools?

How about the song we teach children to help them remember the alphabet? Its melody is a memory technique, loud and clear.

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge for music is a memory technique.

We have simple mnemonics for astronomy, art, math, biology, geography and chemistry.

Heck, just search Wikipedia for “list of mnemonics” and you’ll find more than you can shake a stick at.

But Are Simple Mnemonics Enough?

That’s the real question at hand.

Because the problem is that a lot of the images and word play you’ll find on that Wikipedia page are useless.

Worse than useless, they create a ton of overwhelm.

Why?

Because they don’t come with any understanding. They’re not loaded with strategy …

They Have No Method …

And that’s why the Magnetic Memory Method is such a roaring success.

No, not for everyone. Not everyone wants to learn how to think about memory. Many people want formulas, gimmicks and “systems.”

I’m sorry, but that’s not reality.

And it’s not what we do in the Magnetic Memory Method Family.

Far from it. Instead of pretending that there’s some kind of fix all system that will magically improve your memory for all things forever and ever amen …

We Break Memory Techniques Down To The Basics

 

And once that’s done, we understand the how, the why and the what.

So that it doesn’t hurt so much to learn. Here’s why you feel pain with learning, by the way (thanks to Miklós in the SuperLearner community for bringing it to our attention):

It’s even easier to stop the pain than the video suggests.

How so?

By making sure that you understand how to really get results from the techniques by aligning them with your real reasons for learning, remembering and recalling information.

It’s often not what it seems.

Because here’s the deal …

At the Magnetic Memory Method Headquarters, I strive to achieve just one thing:

Mastery.

Mastery over your memory.

Mastery over your concentration.

Mastery over the rate at which you learn.

Mastery over the pain of forgetfulness.

So That You Never Have To Feel That Pain Again!

But it’s not going to happen without study.

It’s not going to happen without effort.

It’s not going to happen without creating and using Memory Palaces.

Above all, it’s not going to happen without consistency of effort.

And that’s what’s so cool about the Magnetic Memory Method.

If you’ve been following the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast, you’ve heard the stories of success. Just one for today:

These success stories with learning and memory techniques all boil down to one thing:

Learning the techniques.

Using the techniques.

Analyzing your results and then improving your abilities using them.

The best part?

I’ve had the chance to teach the Magnetic Memory Method to some of the finest students on the planet.

And guess what?

Success Leaves Clues

All of the most successful students share one thing in common.

They don’t wait around waiting for success to happen!

They invest in themselves.

They study the material they’ve invested in.

They take action.

They experiment, explore and when they’re done, they experiment and explore some more!

Having The Humility To Learn Is A Skill

What I’ve learned from all of the Magnetic Memory Method success stories is that everything begins with a decision.

It’s a decision to set aside time to learn.

To really learn.

I’ve done it myself. After years of success with my own memory and as a memory trainer, I went to learn from one of the best on the planet.

Not just to collect data and “spy” on the competition.

To Truly Learn

As a result, I’m better for it. In fact, I still buy books and courses from people. Some are from authors who help only a fraction of the audience the Magnetic Memory Method has gathered. Some are from towering figures who practically rule the memory world.

I’m talking about taking some courses that cost 4x the amount of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass and Mastermind combined.

Yes! Memory improvement courses that expensive really do exist!

The Best Always Invest In Themselves

Here’s the thing:

Even when you get to the top – which is incredibly rare – you still have to keep learning. And let’s not beat around the bush:

The ones who sail past the obstacles in life are the ones who are in motion to begin with.

Wouldn’t you like to be in motion?

Of course you would. You just need to get started with learning and memory techniques.

And the best part about them is that learning can be fun.

Seriously.

Learning how to learn doesn’t have to be the horrid and depressing playground of the school system where everyone winds up asking, “Why don’t they teach the most important skills in the world in school?”

Again, that isn’t the real question.

Let’s Ask The Really Important Questions
About Learning And Memory

The really important questions have to do with the quality of the memory techniques you study and the quality of the action YOU take.

And let’s face it:

The quality of your action comes down to the quality of the philosophy behind the education.

And my philosophy of learning and memory is that you need someone to teach you how to fish, not someone to do the fishing for you.

Are you in?

The post Why They Don’t Teach Learning And Memory Techniques In Schools appeared first on Magnetic Memory Method - How to Memorize With A Memory Palace.

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