What shall I say of memory, the repository of all knowledge?
(Cicero - De senectute)
by Amy E. Barr
Homer, many would argue,* was the composer of the Iliad, an epic describing the almost final days of the Trojan war. I say “composer” nor writer because it is unlikely he had the luxury of being able to write down those 24 books of Greek poetry in dactylic hexameter since the Greek alphabet was still on the drafting table. Even if he was able to enjoy a beta test on that new Greek alphabet, he was blind, so there’s that. Homer also composed and recited the Odyssey, the tale of Odysseus’ struggle to get home, in much the same way: all from memory. Both epics are 24 books written in meter (an arrangement of long and short syllabus) rather than rhyme.
*It is common for some to sneer that the Iliad and Odyssey were written by committee and perfected gradually over time rather than composed by Homer. First, I hate people that sneer but, second, I’ve never seen a convincing argument for how a committee would be able to write a better epic than a single author. These sneering types probably actually enjoy committee meetings. I bet they are the ones that regularly schedule them on Fridays before holidays.
My point is this: Homer composed and recited and then MEMORIZED very long epics. As one might imagine, the need to memorize these epics (and others from this same early period) lasted quite a while until that Greek alphabet finished up the GoFundMe period and eventually launched. Even then, memorization continued. As an educated Greek or Roman person, one memorized parts, or even all of these epics, plus plenty more.
Memorizing fast amounts of information used to be standard. What happened to us? I think we forgot how the brain can do amazing things! While there are plenty of techniques you can use to memorize large quantities of information, I recommend two that everyone can use right away: writing and sleeping. Sleep is a fabulous study aid as long as you are not sleeping through the block of time scheduled study.
Rewire Your Brain Every Day
Daily study alternating with other normal activities and a full night's sleep is the best stress-free way to soak up something complicated like Latin. I’ll use Latin as my example because I am a Latin teacher. These techniques work for anything complicated. Try this: Spend about 8-12 minutes on vocabulary right before you go to sleep EVERY night. Your brain will work on it all night for you while you get some quality snoozing done. First thing in the morning, zoom through your deck once more. You’ll find your retention is pretty good! Your brain chewed on those facts for you all night.
Next, look at a chart of endings or forms that you taped to your bathroom mirror, just think them through while you are brushing your teeth. Then make yourself write them out quickly on a piece of scrap paper from memory. When you are riding in a car, spend 10 minutes flipping through flash cards or getting to know some noun or verb endings. Short study periods. No late-nighters.
LONG CRAM SESSIONS ARE A WASTE OF TIME
Cram sessions (when you sit for extended periods trying to ‘cram’ knowledge into your brain right before the test) don’t work. This rule is true for any complex body of knowledge like math formulae or points of history or scientific names for seaweed. Break up your study sessions into short periods (20 to 30 minutes) that are never longer than 45 minutes to an hour. Even on a day off, do 15 minutes of study (I like a ton of homemade flash cards or reading the chapter), but do this especially before you go to bed. I recommend that you involve as much writing and rewriting as possible. Got a stack of principal parts to learn? Tell yourself you can go to bed after you’ve written them all five times each.
People who play instruments are already familiar with this mastery method which is why musicians tend to be really good Latin learners. “Music makes you smarter” because it teaches you how to learn. Constant practice and repitition does the job in music and in language.
Use all your senses
You might be surprised to hear this, but I’m not a proponent of approaches that have you mindlessly chanting Latin all day. Most of those Latin learning systems don’t teach you much except for how to make an hour boring while your dog or cat looks at you funny. There IS, however, something to be said for employing multiple senses to memorize things. So chanting (or drawing, or writing, or listening) can be a great tool depending on your learning style. Most of us benefit from the simple act of writing things out because slowing the brain to carefully compose letters on paper is a big boon to mastery.
Just like you wouldn’t lift weights with only one arm, why study only one way? Work out different parts of your brain by using all your senses to memorize. Get creative: Read, write, draw, doodle, pronounce, even act out your data list. Some attempt to write a story in Latin each week using that chapter’s vocabulary correctly. This technique can be done for most subjects.
Some create a pictorial system for flash cards, drawing a doodle for a term to help cement a concept visually. Others enlist a study buddy who is willing to help wflashcardssh cards on a regular basis.
Remember, study some every day, write things out, and get a good night of rest. Your brain will double your efforts for you!
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