Phrasebook

Tips against forgetting

Learning is not always easy. Even when it is fun, it can be exhausting. But when we've learned something, we're happy. We're proud of ourselves and our progress. Unfortunately, we can forget what we learn. That is often a problem with languages in particular. Most of us learn one or more languages in school. This knowledge often gets lost after the school years. We hardly speak the language anymore. Our native language usually dominates our everyday life. Many foreign languages only get used on vacation. But if knowledge isn't regularly activated, it gets lost. Our brain needs exercise. It could be said that it functions like a muscle. This muscle has to be exercised, otherwise it will get weaker. But there are ways to prevent forgetting. The most important thing is to repeatedly apply what you have learned. Consistent rituals can help with this. You can plan a small routine for different days of the week. On Monday, for example, you could read a book in the foreign language. Listen to an overseas radio station on Wednesday. Then on Friday you can write in a journal in the foreign language. This way you're switching between reading, hearing and writing. Consequently, your knowledge is activated in different ways. All of these exercises don't have to last long; half an hour is enough. But it's important that you practice regularly! Studies show that what you learn stays in the brain for decades. It just has to be dug out of the drawer again…