There are many ways to remember, but what's most important is that memory strategies do not occur automatically. They require time, practice and effort.
Many of us forget that when we learned our first language, we focused, struggled, and took a long time to master it through years of practice and education. Although your second language is learned differently than your first—at a different age, using different techniques—the time and effort it takes are similar.
Here are two effective strategies you can use to improve your memory skills:
Elaborate on what you want to remember
Elaboration is an important strategy because it involves more processing of new information. Think of examples, and relate information to your own experiences. That way, you form personal associations with information and make the information more meaningful.
For example, if elaboration is a new word, think about when you might use it. Think about exactly when and where you might use it. As you do this, you'll notice it takes time and effort. That's a good thing.
If you want more details, you can also ask people, "Can you elaborate on that?" This is a useful question in an English lesson.
Memory is a web
Think of the word banana. Which words is it connected to? Other fruits like apples? The color yellow? The kitchen, where you keep your bananas? Eating one with lunch? The more connections, the better you'll remember.
So, elaborate on a new word. Memory is a web and the more connections, the stronger the memory.
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elaboration [noun]—the addition of information or an explanation of something that you already have some knowledge of
