Don't try to memorize vocabulary in a new language

Summary

Steve Kaufmann discusses effective methods for learning vocabulary in a new language. He emphasizes not relying on memorization, but instead focusing on repeated exposure through listening and reading. Kaufmann advises against trying to remember specific words or setting goals like learning 10 words a day. He encourages language learners to trust that, over time, their brains will naturally absorb words and improve understanding. Consistency in engaging with the language is key, and vocabulary will grow passively as learners immerse themselves in different contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learning 10 words a day is not an effective strategy for everyone.
• 💡 Focus on language exposure rather than trying to memorize vocabulary.
• 📱 The speaker helped his brother start learning Spanish using LingQ, emphasizing gradual learning.
• 🎯 Don't worry about forgetting words; keep moving forward with learning.
• 👂 Listening and reading are key activities for acquiring vocabulary.
• 📚 Review words but don't stress about memorization—it's part of a gradual process.
• 📝 Flashcards should present all information at once; don't rely on recall exercises.
• 🌱 Exposure to words in different contexts will eventually lead to comprehension.
• 💪 Memory is not the main factor in language learning; exposure and immersion are more important.
• 🔄 The process of learning words happens naturally over time, even passively.

Q & A

What is Steve Kaufmann's general stance on memorizing vocabulary?

Steve Kaufmann believes that language learning is not about memorization. He advises against trying to deliberately remember words, instead recommending exposure to words in different contexts to naturally acquire them over time.

Why does Kaufmann discourage learning a set number of words per day?

Kaufmann finds learning a fixed number of words, like 10 per day, ineffective. He prefers focusing on exposing oneself to a wide range of vocabulary through listening and reading rather than deliberately trying to nail down a specific number of words.

How does Kaufmann suggest words are acquired over time?

Kaufmann suggests that through repeated exposure in different contexts, words start to 'stick' naturally. He emphasizes that there is no need to worry about not remembering a word immediately, as the brain will gradually acquire the word through repeated encounters.

What learning approach does Kaufmann find effective for language acquisition?

Kaufmann relies heavily on listening and reading for language acquisition. He believes that repeatedly encountering words in different contexts helps to understand their meaning and use over time.

How does Kaufmann use flashcards, and why does he avoid traditional methods?

Kaufmann uses flashcards with all information displayed on the face, as he prefers not to challenge himself to recall meanings. He finds traditional methods, like flipping cards to test memory, ineffective and prefers passive exposure.

What advice does Kaufmann give to people who think they have a poor memory for language learning?

Kaufmann reassures that a poor memory is not a barrier to language learning. He emphasizes that language learning is not about memorization, but rather about consistent exposure and trusting the brain to gradually acquire vocabulary.

What is Kaufmann's advice for learners who feel frustrated when they can't remember a word?

Kaufmann advises learners not to worry about forgetting words and not to try to remember them deliberately. He encourages learners to keep moving forward, as the words will eventually become familiar through repeated exposure.

What role do reading and listening play in Kaufmann's language learning process?

Reading and listening are central to Kaufmann’s language learning process. He believes that these activities provide the repeated exposure necessary to naturally acquire vocabulary and develop a deeper understanding of words in different contexts.

Why does Kaufmann believe that vocabulary acquisition is crucial for language learning?

Kaufmann considers acquiring vocabulary to be the fundamental task in language learning. He stresses that having a large vocabulary, even if it's passive, enhances one’s potential to understand and use the language effectively.

What does Kaufmann mean by 'passive vocabulary,' and why is it important?

Passive vocabulary refers to words that a learner understands but may not be able to actively use. Kaufmann argues that even passive vocabulary is important because it contributes to overall comprehension, and over time, some of these words may become part of the active vocabulary.

Outlines

00:00

💡 The Importance of Not Forcing Vocabulary Retention

In this section, Steve Kaufmann discusses the common advice of learning 10 words a day and memorizing them. He finds this method ineffective and instead advocates for a more organic approach to learning vocabulary. He emphasizes the importance of not trying to force memorization but allowing vocabulary to settle in naturally over time through exposure. Kaufmann shares a personal story of helping his bedridden brother use LingQ to learn Spanish. His brother feels frustrated by his inability to remember words, but Steve reassures him that this is normal and that the words will eventually stick with repeated exposure. Steve highlights his process of using LingQ, looking up words, and accepting that it’s okay to forget and recheck words in the beginning stages.

05:03

📚 Passive Exposure Over Deliberate Memorization

In the second part, Kaufmann continues by stressing the importance of exposure rather than trying to memorize vocabulary deliberately. He explains that language learning is not about memorization but about consistent exposure. He dismisses the idea that a poor memory is an obstacle to learning languages, explaining that the brain will naturally start recognizing words through repeated exposure. His approach emphasizes patience and enjoyment of the language learning process. He also highlights the importance of accumulating as many words as possible, including passively known words, as they increase one's potential in the language. He concludes by directing viewers to additional videos where he discusses related topics like learning 100 words a day and the role of memorization in language learning.

Keywords

💡Vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the collection of words in a language that a person knows or is learning. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that acquiring vocabulary is fundamental to language learning, but suggests it should not be done through memorization. Instead, exposure to words through various contexts helps in learning them.

💡Memorization

Memorization is the process of committing something to memory through repetition. The speaker argues against using memorization as a primary method for language learning, as it can be frustrating and ineffective. He suggests that learning vocabulary through repeated exposure is more natural and efficient.

💡Exposure

Exposure in this context refers to the act of encountering words repeatedly through listening, reading, and interacting with language content. The speaker advocates for exposing oneself to a large amount of language material, as this helps the brain gradually absorb and retain words without the need for deliberate memorization.

💡LingQ

LingQ is a language-learning platform mentioned in the video that the speaker and his brother use to learn new languages. The platform emphasizes learning through reading and listening, allowing users to look up unknown words and track their progress. The speaker highlights how his brother is using LingQ to learn Spanish.

💡Passive Learning

Passive learning refers to the process of absorbing information indirectly, without focused study. In the video, the speaker describes passive learning as the gradual acquisition of vocabulary through continuous exposure to the language in various contexts, such as reading and listening, rather than through deliberate memorization or active recall.

💡Known Words

Known words are the words a learner has encountered enough times to understand their meaning, even if they cannot actively use them yet. The speaker talks about how his 'known words' total increases over time as he reads and listens to more content, even without directly trying to memorize them.

💡Blue Words / Yellow Words

In the LingQ system, 'blue words' are new or unknown words that the learner has not yet encountered. 'Yellow words' are words that the learner has looked up but may not fully remember or understand yet. The speaker frequently looks up 'yellow words' during his lessons to reinforce their meanings.

💡Process

Process in this context refers to the ongoing journey of language learning, which involves repeated exposure to the language, gradually understanding more words, and enjoying the experience. The speaker encourages learners to commit to this process rather than focus on quick memorization or results.

💡Flashcards

Flashcards are a common language learning tool that shows a word or concept on one side and its definition or translation on the other. While many people use flashcards for memorization, the speaker prefers to use them with all the information visible upfront, emphasizing exposure over memorization.

💡Accumulating Words

Accumulating words refers to the gradual process of adding new words to one’s vocabulary over time. The speaker explains that accumulating a large number of words is key to becoming proficient in a language, and this happens naturally through regular exposure rather than through a deliberate focus on memorizing specific words.

Highlights

Learning 10 words a day and trying to memorize them is not effective.

It's better not to focus on remembering vocabulary but to keep progressing.

Most vocabulary is learned through listening and reading, not memorization.

Constant exposure to words helps them eventually stick.

Don't worry about not remembering vocabulary; trust the process.

Reviewing words helps, but it's still part of a gradual learning process.

It's difficult to predict when words will start to 'click' and become familiar.

Flashcards are useful, but avoid trying to force recall with them.

Deliberate memorization techniques are not necessary for vocabulary acquisition.

The brain gradually learns words through varied exposure, not memory exercises.

Sometimes words are learned without deliberate attention, just through context.

Learning language is not about having a strong memory, but about enjoying the process.

Language learning involves accumulating words passively as well as actively.

Passive knowledge of words still greatly improves language proficiency.

Trust your brain to acquire words through continual exposure over time.

Transcripts

People try to say, well, you should try to learn 10 words a day

and really make sure you can use them and sort of nail them down.

I've never found that effective.

Hi there, Steve Kaufmann here.

Today I wanna talk about learning vocabulary and why we shouldn't

try to remember vocabulary.

Now, if you enjoy my videos, please subscribe, click on

the be for notification.

If you follow me on a podcast service, please leave a comment.

I mentioned the other day that I went to visit my brother who's

not well, he's sort of bedridden.

I gave him an iPad and I tried to get him going on LingQ.

So it's very interesting for me, and I speak to him every couple of

days, it's very interesting for me to see his experience because he's

not an experienced language learner.

And so he's learning LingQ and he's getting used to learning

in his case Spanish using LingQ.

And so he said to me on several occasions, I keep on trying to remember

this sentence or this word, and I can't remember it, then it's quite frustrating.

And so I try to explain to him again that, you know, don't

worry about not remembering.

In fact, don't even try to remember the vocabulary, keep moving,

keep moving on and eventually the words will start to stick.

And I thought of my own process of language learning and, I mean,

the bulk of my words I learn them through listening and reading.

Um, I look words up every time.

Like if I'm on my lesson page in LingQ, if it's a blue word, obviously

I look it up in order to get the meaning, it's now a yellow word.

But when I come across a yellow word, even if I kind of think I know the meaning,

I'll just give another quick look.

Uh, and then of course, that doesn't mean I can use it.

It doesn't mean that I won't, again, have to look it up the next time, but it's

part of that gradual process of getting a sense of what the scope of meaning of the

word is as I see it in different contexts, getting familiar with the word, the word

getting familiar with me, and, and at some point it starts to click in and it's very

hard to predict when that's gonna happen.

And so most of my activity is listening and reading, noticing things while

reading, noticing things while listening but I also do review words in list.

Uh, and I've said that I'll sometimes pick, you know, the status three, the sort

of familiar words to try and move some to known to pad my known words number.

Uh, I'll sometimes look at them in alphabetical order just to see

the words that have the same, you know, prefix, because that can help.

Uh, if I do flashcards, I want all the information on the face of the flashcard.

It's all just exposure.

I don't try to rack my brain.

In other words, have the...

either the word in the target language on the front of the flashcard, and then

try to think what it means and flip it over, or conversely to see, say the

English word and try to remember what that is, uh, in the target language.

I don't do those things.

Some people do.

I'm not saying that it's not effective for some people, but

for me, I don't believe in it.

I, I, I feel that if I can continue to expose myself or expose these

words to my brain in different ways eventually I will learn them.

And I have noticed that a lot of the words that I learned that are added to my known

words total are words that I didn't even look up because words, you know, they

have things in common and pretty soon we know, uh, maybe a different tense or

a different person or a different form of a word that we've already learned.

And so without even looking that word up, it's just added to our known words

total because we didn't save it and so the system considers it known.

So I sometimes feel that this sort of deliberate attempt to acquire words

and what's particularly bad is, is, is if people try to say, well, you

should try to learn 10 words a day and really make sure you can use

them and sort of nail them down.

I've never found that effective.

I far rather just expose myself to as many words as I can rereading old

lessons, you know, going into new lessons, exposing myself to these words and

gradually low and behold the statistics in increase and my known words total

all of a sudden it's 10,000 words.

Granted, the way we count them at LingQ where each form of the word is considered

a different word, but the point is don't in my view, don't rely on memory.

Like a lot of people say to me, well, I can't learn languages

because, uh, I have a poor memory.

Your poor memory is probably not that poor, it's irrelevant.

Language learning is not about memorization.

Language learning is about committing yourself to a

process, enjoying the process.

Allowing the language to come into you and trusting that your brain will

gradually understand more and more, gradually acquire more and more words.

So my advice on language learning, or in, in terms of acquiring words, and I

should say, accumulating words is the fundamental task in language learning.

And so the more words you have even passively the better your

potential in the language.

So it is important to acquire the words, but you're not necessarily

gonna acquire words by deliberately trying to remember them.

Uh, a couple of videos I'll leave you with one where I talk about learning a hundred

words a day and another one where I talk about memorization and language learning.

I did these a few years ago.

Hopefully I said the same things then as I'm saying now.

Thank you for listening.

Bye for now.