Study this picture for 1 minute. Try to remember as much as possible about it.

Now tell your partner about the picture. Take it in turns to say something.

The first 10 steps to improving your memory

• Believe you can improve your memory.• Use it or lose it.• Eat and sleep well.• Be more observant – notice things!• Give yourself time to memorise and take breaks.• Create vivid, memorable images.• Pay attention – you can’t learn something you don’t

understand.• Get regular exercise and don’t smoke.• Over learn.• Learn a foreign language!

1. How many exclamation marks were there in the 10 steps?

2. What was the 3rd letter of the 2nd word of the 1st step?

3. List all 10 steps in the order they appeared in the list.

2

u

!!!!!!!

These sorts of questions are ridiculous and impossible for most of us to answer. We are not expecting you to train your memory for things like that, but rather be able to memorise vocabulary, grammar rules and phrases.

Now let’s look at what you can expect from these lessons on

memory.• First let’s look at strategies for memorising

vocabulary.

• Then we’ll look at how to memorise whole sentences (so they actually make sense and are correct!)

• Finally, we’ll see how to tackle memorising lots of sentences for a speaking or writing assessment.

Vocabulario• me ducho• y• la casa• a las siete• desayuno • hermano• por la mañana• con• mi• de• despues• me levanto• ocho• salgo

• I have a shower• and• the house• at 7 o’clock• I eat my breakfast • brother• in the morning• with• my• from• after• I get up• 8• I leave

• me ducho• y• la casa• a las siete• desayuno • hermano• por la mañana• con• mi• de• despues• me levanto• ocho• salgo

Homework

Below and on the right are the 14 words you have been learning in class today. At the start of the next class you will do a quiz on these words.

Your task for the next lesson is to be able to:

a) Memorise the meaning of the words.

b) Memorise the spelling of the words

c) Memorise the pronunciation of the words

This is how to complete this task:

1. Use the strategies discussed in class to help you learn the words

2. Using the sheet with the Spanish and English test yourself on the words.

3. After testing each time, colour code the list of 14 words on the reverse of this sheet:

Green: I can say and spell this word and know its meaning

Orange/Yellow: I have difficulties with the spelling/pronunciation or meaning

Red/Pink: I am struggling to learn this word.

4. Repeat 1-3 until you manage all words and can colour them green! You should do all 4 attempts to really make sure you know them.

• me ducho• y• la casa• a las siete• desayuno • hermano• por la mañana• con• mi• de• despues• me levanto• ocho• salgo

• me ducho• y• la casa• a las siete• desayuno • hermano• por la mañana• con• mi• de• despues• me levanto• ocho• salgo

• me ducho• y• la casa• a las siete• desayuno • hermano• por la mañana• con• mi• de• despues• me levanto• ocho• salgo

• me ducho• y• la casa• a las siete• desayuno • hermano• por la mañana• con• mi• de• despues• me levanto• ocho• salgo

1st attempt 4th attempt3rd attempt2nd attempt