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How
To Learn English
Using The Power Of Flashcard Overload
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How To Teach English (with DVD) Paperback |
Scientific research indicates the subconscious mind is immensely powerful.
One estimate is that only 0.01% of all the brain’s activity is experienced consciously. Put into everyday terms, that’s comparable to 10,000 movies playing in the mind all at the same time while the individual is only conscious of one of them.
In "The
Speed Reading Book", Tony Buzan draws attention to the huge potential
of the
brain to receive and retain information through reading.
He said: "Great artists, thinkers, scientists and even some Presidents read at speeds of over 1,000 words per minute. So can you." (Chapter 7 p. 69.)
Introducing Photoreading
A method called PhotoReading has now gone even farther, asserting you can train yourself to read 25,000 words a minute.
Here is where the power of the subconscious mind comes in. Those using the PhotoReading method take a mental picture or snapshot of an entire page at a time leaving it to the nonconscious mind to record and store the information.
That
truly is information overload but amazingly, numerous testimonials indicate
this 
method works for many people.
Flooding the brain with what appears to be more information than it can reasonably absorb taps into the huge potential of the brain so it retains far more information than reading at a steady pace.
Applying Photoreading Principles to Flashcards
This has major implications for using visual aids when teaching language. Flashcards have been an extremely useful tool over the years for teaching words and phrases. Babies and very young children especially seem to learn quickly through this method.
Traditionally, a student is exposed to a series of cards containing words or phrases with or without pictures. Each card is flashed before the student for a few seconds and repeated perhaps two or three times during the day. This method in itself is very productive in getting students to remember vocabulary.
Use Slideshows
Now with computer assisted tools, it is possible to create a slideshow version of the flash card system using software such as Microsoft Powerpoint.
Here
is where the principles from PhotoReading can be utilized. While a slideshow
staged at 1 slide every few seconds can be very effective, imagine assembling
120 flashcards into a slideshow and setting the speed
at 1 per second. Within 2 minutes a student will have
been exposed to 120 different words and phrases.
While they would not of course be able to recall the 120 words or phrases, their eyes have taken snapshots and the information has gone into the subconscious mind.
If this is done repeatedly the mind quickly begins to absorb a large amount of information. This exercise can be used as a 'softening up' process to prepare the mind for more detailed consideration later.
Once a student has had a flashcard overload session, the slideshow can then be slowed down so each slide is seen in detail. Explanation can be given if needed on the meaning of the word or phrase.
Use The Saturation Technique
By understanding the huge potential of the brain, a teacher can saturate
the minds of the students with vocabulary knowing they will retain a reasonable
percentage of it after repeated viewings.
Of course, a teacher will want to use discernment with this method so as to avoid tiring the students, and not overuse it.
At the same time, pushing the mind to operate at new and higher levels will yield wonderful results in the future, not only with language learning, but with anything a student chooses to apply their thinking processes to.
In conclusion: How to learn English? Use the power of flashcard overload!
Photo
credits:
Waterfall: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wjklos/
/ CC
BY 2.0
Flooding: http://www.flickr.com/photos/morningstarphoto/
/ CC
BY 2.0