How to Remember Vocabulary: The W.R.A.P. Method

Summary

In this video, Emma introduces the WRAP method, a simple yet effective way to remember new vocabulary, grammar, or any information. WRAP stands for Write it down, Repeat it, Associate it, and Picture it. Emma explains each step in detail, using fun examples to demonstrate how to use this method. She provides four new words — bulk, blue, coworker, and downside — and teaches viewers how to retain them using creative associations and imagery. The WRAP method encourages repetition, visualization, and connections to existing knowledge, making learning both engaging and memorable.

Takeaways

• ✏️ The WRAP method helps in learning and remembering vocabulary, grammar, or any new information.
• 📝 'W' in WRAP stands for 'Write it down' – writing information manually helps improve memory retention.
• 🔁 'R' stands for 'Repeat' – reviewing material regularly over several days (like the 'four-sleep rule') enhances long-term memory.
• 🔗 'A' stands for 'Associate it' – connecting new information with things already known can help recall.
• 🖼️ 'P' stands for 'Picture it' – visualizing concepts or creating mental images aids in memory.
• 👨‍🏫 Association can be based on sounds, meanings, or familiar people, e.g., 'Hulk' for 'bulk' (both represent something large).
• 😢 Blue also means 'sad', and imagining blue tears can help remember this meaning.
• 👩‍💼 'Coworker' can be associated with 'work' and the prefix 'co-', meaning 'together' (e.g., cooperate).
• 📉 'Downside' means disadvantage, which can be remembered by imagining something negative going down, like money decreasing.
• 💡 The more you engage with and actively use these methods (writing, repeating, associating, picturing), the better your brain retains new information.

Q & A

What is the name of the memory method introduced in the video?

The memory method introduced in the video is called the 'wrap method' or 'W-R-A-P method'.

What does the 'W' in the 'wrap method' stand for?

The 'W' in the 'wrap method' stands for 'write it down', emphasizing the importance of writing new information by hand to aid memory.

Why is writing by hand considered better for memory than typing?

Writing by hand is considered better for memory because it engages more of the senses and requires more cognitive processing, thus helping to reinforce the learning.

What is the significance of repeating information when trying to remember it?

Repeating information helps to commit it to long-term memory by reinforcing the neural pathways associated with that information.

What is the 'four-sleep rule' mentioned in the video?

The 'four-sleep rule' is a technique where you repeat the information you want to remember over four days, including studying before sleep, to enhance memory retention through sleep.

How does spacing out repetitions aid in memory?

Spacing out repetitions aids memory by allowing for consolidation of the information over time, making it more likely to be remembered in the long term.

What does the 'R' in the 'wrap method' stand for?

The 'R' in the 'wrap method' stands for 'repeat', which is the process of reviewing the information multiple times to enhance memory.

Why is it beneficial to put the most important information at the beginning and end of a list when studying?

Placing the most important information at the beginning and end of a list takes advantage of the serial position effect, where items at the start and end of a list are more easily remembered.

What does the 'A' in the 'wrap method' stand for and how does it help with memory?

The 'A' in the 'wrap method' stands for 'associate it', which involves linking new information to something already known to facilitate memory.

How can creating a mental picture or association help in remembering new vocabulary?

Creating a mental picture or association helps in remembering new vocabulary by providing a visual or conceptual anchor that makes the new information more memorable and easier to recall.

What does the 'P' in the 'wrap method' stand for and what role does it play in learning?

The 'P' in the 'wrap method' stands for 'picture it', which encourages the use of imagination to create vivid mental images that can significantly enhance memory retention.

What is the final step in the 'wrap method' after writing, repeating, and associating?

The final step in the 'wrap method' after writing, repeating, and associating is to 'picture it', which involves creating a mental image to solidify the memory of the learned information.