The Optimal Learning Environment for Studying Mnemonics

Using mnemonics to learn a foreign language requires a slightly different study strategy to other disciplines. Because it involves memorisation, there is no need for a study group to help understand certain concepts, like in mathematics or physics, and because it involves not reading a text so much as imagining it as vividly as possible, any distractions from the outside environment are much more disrupting.

Because learning with mnemonics involves a lot more fantasy than other methods, there are certain times and environments that are more suitable than others.

It helps to have a visual environment that is free of distractions. This means that nothing striking should really stand out: nothing blinking or in white or vivid colours. It's good to keep anything moving out of your line of sight, although you can have a dimmed television if the sound is off. Because of the soft light, the early morning or dusk are the best times to get the imagination going. Early morning might be more practical for most people because the dusk is more likely to be a social time. This may mean that learning your target language requires a commitment to getting up an hour earlier!

Other distractions, like sound and discomfort, also play a role. Part of successfully creating a mnemonics session involving placing yourself into a state of moderate relaxation, so all sharp or piercing sounds must be avoided. This means, if possible, switching off the phone and asking people who might otherwise disturb you during this time to leave you alone for an hour. Some gentle music is good to drown out any minor distractions, and you can also set the scene by playing music in the language that you're learning. It's also a good idea to keep the right temperature in the room, and to read the mnemonics while sitting in a comfortable chair or sofa.

Oddly, being wide aware and alert doesn't necessarily help with getting into the right mindset for learning mnemonics. This means that if you feel tired, you're better off using that tiredness to drift in and out of your imagination than getting wired on cigarettes or coffee.

If you take all of these precautions you should find that your imagination becomes more free and the images more vivid. This will encode them with a stronger imprint in your memory, meaning you will remember them for longer and they will be easier to recall. Happy dreams!