How To Learn English
By Imitating Brain Cells

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At this very moment, millions of brain cells inside your head are busy receiving information. Biochemical electromagnetic pathways are being created as messages and thoughts are processed.

Each brain cell has a centre from which radiate branches called dendrites which can link with dendrites of another brain cell through electrical impulses.

"Each of these brain cells looks like a super-octopus, with a central body and tens, hundreds, or thousands, of tentacles." (Buzan, 1995 p.27)

This basic knowledge of the brain cell can have a huge impact on how we learn and how we teach.

Radiant Design

What if we could in some way imitate this radiant design in learning/teaching methodology? Would it enhance our learning ability if the teaching method was structured the same way as brain cells? Absolutely! But how?

Suppose a language teacher introduces a core group of 5 new words related to a central theme in a learning period. From those 5 new words synonyms and antonyms are also introduced along with phrasal verbs and sentences in various tenses.

Instead of students laboriously writing down a list of the new words, phrases and sentences covered in that lesson, they draw a map imitating the brain cell.

With a sheet of paper in landscape mode, they put the central theme in the middle. Then a branch is created from the centre along which a keyword is written. Sub-branches and lines are drawn out from the main branch containing synonyms, antonyms, and phrasal verbs.

With a new branch for each core keyword, the paper now contains the central theme, 5 main branches, and numerous sub-branches containing related words and phrases. A different color is used for each branch. Small cartoons, or symbols and drawings are inserted beside some of the words and related words to illustrate their meaning.

Mind Mapping

This method is often referred to as mind mapping. Mind Maps were formally introduced to the world in the spring of 1974 by the method’s creator, Tony Buzan. (Buzan, 1995 p.15)

In a nutshell he explains: "Rather than starting from the top and working down in sentences or lists, one should start from the centre with the main idea and branch out as dictated by the individual ideas and general form of the central theme." (Buzan, 1991 p. 93)

Now, using mind mapping, a student can quickly assimilate the vocabulary covered in an entire lesson at a glance, and with one major advantage.

Just as the dendrites in a group of brain cells can link and connect with each other, the student can now easily see connections and co-relationships between keywords and related words.

The Brain's Pattern Seeking Characteristic

The brain, which has an amazing inbuilt pattern seeking mechanism, starts to see how various words relate to each other.

As explained by Edward De Bono, a leading authority on thinking skills, "The mind functions to create patterns out of its surroundings.

Once the patterns are formed it becomes possible to recognize them, to react to them, to use them. As the patterns are used they become ever more firmly established." (De Bono, 1990)

By regularly reviewing this mind map, or word tree, the mind quickly and easily absorbs new vocabulary, thus firmly establishing new patterns. The brain eagerly soaks up the lesson depicted in a variety of colors with associated pictures and symbols.

So how to learn English? By making it exciting and enjoyable! Language study can take on a whole new dimension with students often making rapid progress. Whether in the learning or teaching arena, imitating brain cells can be very powerful.

References:
Tony Buzan with Barry Buzan (1995).
The Mind Map Book. Revised edition 1995. Butler & Tanner Ltd, Frome and London.
Tony Buzan. (1991) Use Both Sides Of Your Brain. Published by Plume, an imprint of Dutton Signet, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc. January 1991. p.93
Edward De Bono. (1990) Lateral Thinking. Reprinted in Penguin Books 1990. p.10

Photo credits:
MindMap: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanlouis_zimmermann/3041524209/
Octupus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15708236@N07/2849976862/