If you are visiting from StumbleUpon and like this article and tool, please consider giving it a thumbs up. Thanks!
Memorizing does not have to be as hard as most people make it. The problem is that most people only know how to memorize by reading the same thing over and over again. You have to learn to memorize. In this post we are going to look at how the brain remembers and then show how to use that knowledge to come up with a method for memorizing verbatim text. Any tip or trick that will improve your memory even slightly is well worth the effort.
In this article we are going to focus on a technique that will let you easily:
- Memorize a speech
- Memorize the Bible
- Memorize lines
- Memorize Scripture
At the end of this article is a Javascript tool that makes it easy to implement this method. If you are reading the RSS or Email version, the tool may not show up.
Synapses and Neurons and How to Memorize
In the simplified model of the brain in this discussion, we’ll be looking at neurons and synapses. Neurons are parts of the brain that can send and receive electrical signals. Synapses are the paths between neurons.
When you remember something neurons fire signals down particular synapse pathways to other neurons which in turn fire signals to other neurons. The particular sequence represents a memory. In fact, scientists have been able to make people “re live” experiences from the past by poking around in their brain with an electric probe and starting this interaction.
Strong Pathways
Synapses appear to exhibit plasticity. The strength of the signal they convey is determined by use. The more a particular synapse is used, the stronger the signal it conveys.
For example, consider remembering your home telephone number. Since this is a number you use on a regular basis it probably comes very easily to mind. When you try to recall the number some neurons fire of a signal down some synapses that carry a very strong signal to other neurons which do the same thing. The number comes with very little effort.
Now consider a number that you will have trouble remembering. Lets say your driver’s license number. For most people an attempt to recall this number will cause neurons to fire down very weak synapses. If you are like me, the signal is so weak that it will probably not create the necessary chain reaction to recall the number. In fact all I get is a vague impression that the first letter is an S or E. To improve your memory of this number it is necessary to fire a signal down the synapses that will trigger this memory.
How to Memorize – Practice Recalling not Repeating
This is the crucial concept of any type of memorization. The act of reading something you want to memorize fires different connections than the act of recalling. This is how you learn to memorize–your practice recalling, not repeating. This means that simply reading a particular piece of text over and over again is going to be the long road to memorization. You need to let your brain practice recalling the data so it can strengthen the same pathways that will fire when you need to remember the information later on. You can’t practice recalling until the information is at least partially contained in your short term memory.
Now lets look at coming up with a method for memorizing text using our understanding of how the brain works. So lets say we are trying to memorize the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
The 278 word speech is not a particularly long oration, but it will work for our demonstration purposes. Our goal is to create a method that will force our brain to practice recalling the speech–even before we have it fully memorized. So first of all we need to get it into our mind so our brain has it–even if we can’t recall it. Here are a few methods that will work:
- Read through it aloud.
- Copy the text by hand.
- Read through the text and create a short outline.
- Have someone else read it to you.
There are other methods as well, just do something to get a general familiarity with the piece. Now we need to come up with a method to give our brain, just enough information to recall the original text without simply reading the original.
F s a s y a o f b f o t c, a n n, c i L, a d t t p t a m a c e.
N w a e i a g c w, t w t n, o a n s c a s d, c l e. W a m o a g b-f o t w. W h c t d a p o t f, a a f r p f t w h g t l t t n m l. I i a f a p t w s d t.
B, i a l s, w c n d — w c n c — w c n h — t g. T b m, l a d, w s h, h c i, f a o p p t a o d. T w w l n, n l r w w s h, b i c n f w t d h. I i f u t l, r, t b d h t t u w w t w f h h t f s n a. I i r f u t b h d t t g t r b u — t f t h d w t i d t t c f w t g t l f m o d — t w h h r t t d s n h d i v — t t n, u G, s h a n b o f — a t g o t p, b t p, f t p, s n p f t e.
What we’ve done is taken the first letter of each word. Now try to recite the speech while looking at the text above. You’ll probably get part way into it and get confused. Backup a few letters and look beyond the letter you are struggling with to see if you can figure it out. Remember you are trying to help your brain find the right connections. If you have to consult the original, make note of what confused you and start over.
I have found this method to be much more productive for memorizing verbatim text than just about anything else. I used it extensively in school when I was trying to find how to memorize scripture quickly. It will help improve your memory by giving you a way to practice. However, keep in mind that it is simply one method. When you need to memorize something, think about how to help your brain practice recalling the information–not merely reading it over and over again. Your goal is to quickly get the information into your short term memory so you can start practicing the recall process and move the information into long term memory.
Below is a tool to help you produce first letter text as shown above. Simply paste the original text in the top box and hit the button. All the letters other than the first one of each word will be stripped out and placed in the bottom box. You can then copy this into a document for printing.
Thanks, know the feeling. I am looking forward to giving the system a try :-)
Wow! Wow! Wow!
My 14yo is studying 1,507 Bible verses for Bible Bee 2009, and we found you through http://www.scripture-memory-support.org/prompt.html !
This is going to be such a blessing as we head into the last few weeks before competition on Sept. 12.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
We will spread the word, so I hope we don’t close down your site here! :ob
For those who are interested, the UPurMEMORY tool that I wrote for Windows has been updated to work with 64-bit Windows Operating Systems. You can find it here: http://www.twomilessolutions.com/upurmemory
Mark, this is a truly brilliant technique. I often need to memorize passages of historic text verbatim, and it has always been a nightmare, even with the kind of mnemonic memory techniques the Prof mentioned above.
To explain that a little by the way, the idea is that through training, you learn shortcut associations for each number from 1-100 and each letter (and, if you want to take part in memory tournament *shudder* each card in a deck) with a specific graphic image. For instance, in the system I use, 1 is a Tie, 2 is Noah, 3 is Mother, and so on.
Then when you need to memorise something, you break it into conceptual chunks, and associate each chunk its own graphic mental image. The pre-memorised shortcuts can help a lot in some cases, and not at all in others.
Once you have your graphic visualisations, you piece them together into a mental story — the stranger, more striking, more obscene, whatever the better.
So “four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent” could be a big football-stadium scoreboard made of Rye (the token for 4). A godzilla-sized cow (for 7) then takes a bite out of the scoreboard. Then maybe my father could kick the cow (now poodle-sized) off into the distance, and, I dunno, squat down and give birth onto America.
Not very nice, I admit — I write horror for a living, heh — but certainly memorable.
It’s a system that works very well, but as you can see, it is also very laborious. It’s pretty damn good for shopping lists and stuff like that, though.
Anyway. Thanks again for this great technique.
Oh and also, people, don’t buy Jeff’s exploitative cash-in tool directly above this comment. Please, bookmark this page. If you really don’t want to do that, then to quote Stephen Downes above:
“This is a very simple bit of Javascript code, based on a one-line regular expression, and nobody should be charging $10 for something like this. Go here:
http://www.downes.ca/memorization.htm
and view the source. Better yet, save a copy to your desktop and open it there.”
T.
@Ghostwoods – I’m glad you like the system. Jeff’s program has some additional capabilities when it comes to testing yourself that would be very handy to some people. Whether it is worth the small fee he is charging probably has more to do with how much you need to memorize and how much your time is worth, but I would hardly call $10 exploitative.
The method you speak of is called “The Method of Loci,” also commonly called “memory palace.” Based off of your story about Godzilla and the cow, I have concluded that you are quite good at using this technique. It’s cool how you associate familliar things with what you are trying to memorize, because it engages more of your brain—making it easier to recall things. The crazier the story the easier to remember.
No, the method of loci is a different technique which adds spatial relationships to the mix. This is simply known as a “link” or “chain” mnemonic method.
Also, perhaps surprisingly, the idea that absurdness or craziness of the mental images makes the mnemonic more powerful has been disproven. The important part is seeing the interaction between the images, whether or not it’s absurd (see the Wikipedia article on “mnemonic link system” for references to Hock and Einstein’s research).
Ghostwoods, you’re program is awesome! Thanks. But it doesn’t seem to work in any language other than English. I’ve tried working on it for a few hours, but I can’t get it to work. Can you add that? I’m interested in Hebrew in particular. Thanks, Dave
I am memorizing the lyrics(German) and the translation, this seems to work well for the lyrics, I am trying to incorporate this into memorizing the translation. Creating Flash card would be too cumbersome> any ideas?
Mark:
Great site. In your learned opinion, would there be a more effective or more efficient way of memorizing long lists of phrases (verbatim) but also to incorporate little nuances and “wrinkles” to each phrase and how each phrase would be applied (not verbatim)? For example, to memorize verbatim a list of elements(phrases) for a particular item, but also to memorize (not necessarily verbatim) when each such element/phrase would apply or when there are exceptions to each element/phrase. This is in the context of me trying to study for the Bar Exam. Some things need to be memorized verbatim, while each item/phrase in the list of, say 5-10 short items/phrases would have sub-items/phrases that are contextual in nature (i.e., that a given item/phrase only applies in certain situations, who this applies to, or other general considerations such as if one of the verbatim items is or is not present within a given set of facts or a given situation, then one must look at something completely different like a separate list of items memorized verbatim, etc.,). I think the my circumstances may be distinguishable just enough from the situation you’ve highlighted in the above article so as to warrant a slight modification of approach, but I’d love to know if you think it does or not. Kindly awaiting your expert advice or opinion re: this situation.
This is a great technique!
I’ve combined your technique with a few others, and put together a free web app for memorizing pieces word for word called Verbatim:
http://members.cox.net/astonishment/iphone/webapps/verbatim/
It runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch, Palm Pre, Android devices, and WebKit-based browsers (such as Safari and Google Chrome).
I’ve also linked this article in the manual under “related resources”.
Wow! I have a play to learn, and despite the fact that I only read it through once before I typed it in, I was able to recall almost all my lines! I would reccommend this to anyone, it should be publicised a little more, it’s a great technique! It’s very versatile and anyone could use it! Thankyou so much!
I had to memerize this one poem to me 3 days. It takes 67 minutes to say but I did it.
Steps
1.read over a stanza 5 times
2.write out the poem 5 times
3.Then say each word slowly, but not to slow
Then repeat the steps 3 times then bravo your down!
WOW – this really helped me. I can’t believe I found this. SO helpful. THANK YOU!!!
Thankyou so much
i had to memorize a 1600 word essay for my HSC
thats the final year of school to get into Uni..
So much stress releif
Cheers Mate
Thanks .. That was great information.
I never read such detailed application oriented article about memory.
Thanks again.
I need to have 27 scriptures memorized in less than an hour. What’s the quickest way?! Please help!
I would use the method described on this page. It the fastest way I know of.
I’m a Freemason, and a most of our “work” is reciting ritual parrot fashion. A lot of the words and phrases are in old English dialect, and so not used in normal everyday life.
I have struggled for a number of years memorizing our various ritualistic parts and verses, but after just a few days of using this technique, my “work” has increased noticeably.
With your permission, I shall most definitely be passing this technique on to others who are/have been in a similar predicament to myself.
Many, many thanks for this most useful piece of information.
I’m glad you found it useful. Feel free to share it with who ever you think can use it.
Has anyone tried this technique to learn verbatim foreign language texts?
I’m not sure it would work well to learn a foreign language, but it should work just fine for leaning text in any language.
I’m 13 how can I memorize countries and there capitals (all over the world,) plus rivers deserts … etc..??? HELP!!
I’d try using flashcards for that.
I’m studying Russian and my teacher assigns us texts to memorize. This technique is quite helpful for that. It’s a pity the tool doesn’t work with the cyrillic alphabet, but thanks anyway.
The memorizing app Remember Me for Android now also supports the “first letter” method, and some other ways to learn a text verbatim.
I am sorry, but nothing works for me other than writing. If I write through critiquing what I read, then I am more likely to retain the broad message. I am afraid that the specific details, such as names, places and things just disappear in my memory; lost to all, but that corner of my brain that I cannot recall.
techniques. Unfortunately for you Mac users, it is a windows application. You can run it using parallels or other virtual machine type applications, but I do not own a mac so I have not tested it on one. It has been tested and works on both Windows Vista and Windows XP and should work all the way back to Windows 98
I am actually trying to memorize the Gettysburg Address LOL
This was wonderful. Really useful and quick
I tried your method for a while (7 days) and i found that it was encourageing for a short time and now i am using Pmemory system it’s great!
I used this method to memorize a speech for my grade 10 french oral exam. C’etait fantastique. :)
WOW!! I just tried this with article 1 of the code of conduct. It worked!
Glad to hear it helped you. What exactly are you memorizing?
Mark, the code of conduct is for military members who find themselves separated or captured i.e. a hostile environment. Article 1 “I am an an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.” There are 6 total.
Thanks for the help, i’m trying to memorize lists of aircraft procedures, hopefully this works.
This article is VERY helpful! Thank you! I will be using this method to try and memorize verses for evangelism.
Any ideas on a good method for memorizing Chinese Characters ?
I don’t have any suggestions. Does anyone else have any experience memorizing Chinese characters?
Thank you SO much!!! I’m just starting to do some acting, and memorizing is extremely hard for me. I feel trapped because I want to play the characters well, but can’t focus on characterization when I don’t know the lines to begin with! I think I’ll be able to pull this off now :)
Hi Mark! I coach people who want to learn verbatim text and your method continues to be an awesome addition to our resources…. THANK YOU!!……. Many of us have downloaded the link to the first-letter tool……… I hope you won’t be taking it down anytime soon!…………
I would love to hear some examples of how it has helped people you coach!
I found this site when searching for more effective methods for memorize the Qur’an (in Arabic, verbatim) as has been done for the last 1,400+ centuries.
I will try the letter tool for the English translation, although it does not work for Arabic text.
Thanks.
Sorry it only works with English. You can still do the same thing manually though.
Awesome! The method is really mind blowing. but unfortunately I have very short time to reach my goal for this year, I should have visited this site long back, but anyways let me give a try. Thanks a lot for the method and tool.
This is by far the most awesome thing ever. I’ve been in College for 2 years and I’ve tested multiple ways of my own ideas for improving my studies but though I’ve heard of these before the way you described it put it into a new perspective thanks a lot.
I am a student soon attending university, with the stress i am undergoing know I’m not sure if i’ll be able to manage. To tell you the truth I can actually see the logics in remebering stuffs using the first letters. I’ll definitely try this method.
Bravo man, hope you’ll send more memory tutorials
(+1’d this article).
and what about vocabulary how we can memorize it do you have any simple way because i have a very short memory i even forget names ..
so can you help me :) ?
I use Lumosity all the time. Now, we have to memorize The Gettysburg Address in my English Honors 9 Class – keeping in mind that I’m an eighth grader. We are using the method of memorization that includes our teacher reading it to us and us, the students, writing down the first letter of ever word. It’s working out really well though. I have a 103.98% in her class :) YAY ! i !
Does Luminosity work in your opinion ?
i am an I.T student.I’m not good on recalling codes in visual basic or any programming. what would i do??
Your best bet is probably to program a lot.
I hate you
I’m sorry you feel that way.
Hatred is the devil’s work. It hurts me to say this, but you should be more considerate on what you say to others. People like you who do not think of whether or not what they say will hurt another are the reason we have problems in this world. If everyone could just be kind and compassionate, the world would be at peace and we could live out our god-given lives as happy individuals.
I think he response was playful…like sarcasm.. like when you hit someone with the reality of what you know you need to do but don’t want to do it…..hence.. I hate you for being honest with me…because the truth hurts…but it’s an expression of their frustration..not actual representation of their emotions towards you… think of the humor from the bing bang theory.
I use this tool a lot! Please leave this page here, it makes it so easy to memorize my lines for plays as well as Bible verses. Thanks for sharing!
WOW! I just got assigned a memorizing piece of history and it has to be done by tomorrow. It was memorizing the Preamble. This works wonders! Thank you so very much! (:
I am glad it is useful to you. Best of luck with your assignment.
Mark,
Thank you! The boys can use this tool for their Bible Bowl competition.
Hi there again. Is it possible that the individual who created the conversion tool that works for English, but not Arabic, would please contact me so we can discuss developing one that works for Arabic? Thank you.
I just started to memorize Bibile verses and it has been so cumbersome.
I am definitely excited to try your method. What a blessing this is. Thank you!
This has been extremely helpful for memorizing my my emergency medical technology protocols. Thanks a bunch!
Awesome!! :D :D :D
Sooo helpful!! I’ve got a French presentation tomorrow, and I’ve got like 100 lines to memorize (and I mess up French grammar a lot), so I thought it would be epically hard, but no, I’ve got it all good now! Now I can get an A+ (AGAIN)!!!
–Lana Ally
I had a State Test I had to study for (CNA) and I had to memorize about 50 procedures. Thankfully I found this site a few weeks back and used this method to help me memorize. I did indeed pass my test, and this site had alot to do with it!
Thank you!!!!!
brilliant!!! thought you were off your rocker at first, but hell 2 hours in and i have all but memorized 3 chapters of economic key terms!!! thank you thank you and thanks :)
OMG! Something that actually works for me! I am horrible at memorization. This is brilliant. I’ve been working on a short speech for only an hour or so and have made more progress than I normally would in days.
This is so useful. I’ve used the first-letter-of-every-word converter for all of my English Controlled Assessments (dunno what you Americans have but at the age of 16 we have GCSEs and in English there are several written essays in which you are internally examined) and have got A*s in all 5 of them.
I am also using this for my French and Spanish Controlled Assessments. It’s equally as useful although there seems to be issues in words with accents (ie it will convert Québec into Qéb instead of Q).
Other than that, thank you. You have made my life easier and my GCSEs will help my A-levels which will help my university degree which will ultimately get me a job.
Thanks, you just gave me a job :D
Thought to share this system works great! I memorised three pages of legislation, which is a tongue twister in itself, and had a break for two days. I applied the method and not a hiccup at all in remembering it.
Thanks for helping me out. :0)
Hi. Thanks for your article. It really helps me a lot. I am a law student and some of my teachers wants that their students memorize some provisions of the law verbatim. Do you have a downloadable version of the memorization tool I can use so that I don’t have to go back to this site to convert text? It would really help. Thanks!
I don’t but look through the comments. Reader Jeff Miles made a tool that might do what you are looking for.
Thanks for showing me something new that actually works for me. This is a very useful technique. I’m amazed that I’ve never seen it anywhere else before.