Being a language learner myself, I have to learn a lot about memory and how it works. Studying a foreign language, although we have things like grammar, exercises, texts, etc., at the end of the day what counts the most is memory. If you can memorize thousands of words in a short amount of time you can learn fast.

There are basically two kinds of memory: short term memory and long term memory. Short term memory concerns all recent information you've been exposed to. When somebody tell you a phone number or when you learn a new word, for example. Long term memory concerns all those things you can remember for long time, even if you don't see/hear/study this thing for quite a while. I can remember my old grandmother's phone number and I haven't used it for more than 10 years! On the other hand, I am not able to remember what I ate for lunch today! See, the first information is stored in my long term memory; the second is (was) stored in my short memory. Short term memory is fragile, it fades away quickly. Long term memory is powerful and can be always "accessed".

Well, there are many things you can do to improve your short term memory. I will list here some of the techniques you can use:

1. Mnemonics
2. Your Senses
3. Use the information you've memorized
4. Live/experience it

Mnemonics are very useful when it comes to short term memory. A mnemonics is basically a way of connecting an idea to what you are trying to remember. This "idea" can be ether a silly phrase, an image, a sound, etc., but usually is a phrase. Take a look at this mnemonic used in order to remember the nine planets in order of distance from the sun:

My very easy mnemonic just summed up nine planets

If you remember this simple silly phrase, you can easily remember the order of the nine planets! You can use pre-made mnemonics, but the best thing is to create your own. You can see more English Mnemonic here.

You have five senses right. You can see, smell, taste, fell and hear. In order to memorize something, use as much senses as possible. It is easier to learn something you've heard, seen, and felt than something you've just seen. The more senses you use the more likely you are going to remember any information.

If you can, use what you've just learned. If you learn a new word, try to use it a few times. If you are trying to memorize a number, verbalize it to yourself, or practice dialing it on your cell phone. If you practice what you've just learned, the chances you are going to remember it is much higher.

I guess this is the most important thing. Live/experience what you've learned. I mean, try to learn it through a meaningful experience, some real and not unnatural. We tend to simulate situations and happening in order to learn something. Language classrooms are like that, but the truth is that we only learn something when we live it. That's why we learn swear word so fast, because we don't pretend we are learning, but we in fact want to learn it so badly and the teacher really want to teach those nasty words! If it is real, it is difficult not to learn

Have you found any mistakes or strange usages in my text? That's because I'm not an English native speaker. If you want to help me improving my English skills, feel to correct my mistakes! Just leave a comment. You will help me very much, and my future Hubs are going to be much better! Thanks! If you don't want to correct anything, just enjoy the article and leave you opinion!