3. TOWARDS 'DIFFICULT' WORDS:
INTRODUCING TWO HELPFUL RULES
Words like tomato etc. are easy to visualise.
Abstract terms like integrity etc. are a bit trickier.
(In the beginning at least it may seems so.
However once students know the rules it really doesn’t matter what they want to remember: they just do it.)
Here are two stories to develop some rules that may help:
Towards rule number 1: (Click Here)
Moving on to rule number 2:
If you are American, read this part:
If you are British, read this part:
If you are Irish, read this part:
Any other nationality? Choose one of the above!
Now here is rule No. 2:
You don’t have to be accurate.
However close you get is good enough.
If you are raising your eye-brow here, let’s try the following:
When my son was nine years of age, he had to memorise the mountains of Ireland.
Why? I don’t know. Why is not a question that is too common in school.
Anyway, here are the first 5, starting on the east-coast.
Wicklow mountains (Click Here)
Comeragh mountains (Click Here
Blackstairs mountains (Click Here)
Knockmealdown mountains (Click Here)
Boggeragh mountains (Click Here)
Do you like this one?
Remember, it doesn’t have to be elaborate; however if it happens, I promise you, it is really good fun.
And my son never forgot this one.
Summary here:
- Whatever you hear is good and that is your picture.
- You don’t have to be accurate, as close as you get is good enough.
- Also: - You do not need to know the meaning of the word/item.
- However, you do NEED TO HAVE a picture.
Remark:
Should be so lucky to have a second (or even more) language, and the word you want to visualise elicits a picture in ‘the other’ language, just take it. Accept it, and don’t ask where it comes from. I promise you, you will just know from where you have taken that picture.
Go to 4. More Training Examples
