Memorize Without Realizing

How does it work?

When I was around 12, I would get so overexcited about learning languages that I would repeat some texts until I had fully memorized them. This happened unconsciously, and I was baffled by how well it worked—especially since I normally hate repeating things out loud or memorizing anything.

Back then, I worked with texts I had printed or copied by hand on paper. No smartphones or tablets existed yet 😅

I loved how I could retain small structures and sentence patterns that became useful later when I needed to express myself.

It was as if the brain had ready-made tools to use when needed, especially in moments when there's no time to think (like during conversation...)

Now this memorization process can be much more easier, efficient, entertaining—you name it.

Recently, I helped a friend who's been struggling with Dutch here in Brussels. He was quite skeptical about this method.

We began with a simple text. In the recording, he could hear me reading along with comments about the words and structures found in these Dutch sentences.

We practiced it together several times. It was just a basic dialogue between two friends discussing holidays.

The method is straightforward: read the text aloud two or three times while looking at it. It starts as a simple reading exercise, then we help the brain create memory hooks to retain it.

In the first part of the exercise, some words here and there are missing.

While reading together, instead of giving pronunciation hints, I used two approaches:

1. Provide the Italian word—since it's natural and normal for adults to translate from their mother tongue into their target language. I find other vocabulary teaching methods less effective and even counterproductive.​
   
2. Provide the English word—why? Because they often sound similar. I'd say, "In English, we say... for that word, so in Dutch it is...?"​
   

The second page had more missing words, making it more challenging.

Through reading aloud repeatedly, he learned many words, despite barely understanding the text initially.

I urged him to ignore the word list at the top (which he could drag into place) and instead focus on understanding each sentence's meaning.

What was each sentence trying to convey? How? What were the subject, verb, and topic?

The results amazed him.

He learned about 30 words plus several useful language structures:

• How to say "to go to + place"
• How to say "to be going to do sth"
• How to form the diminutive and its effect on the gender of the word
• Some use cases of the particle "wel"
• How to nuance adjectives through "erg"
• How to say "Hence why..."
• How to say "that one is..."
• How to say "to need sth"
• How to use two separable verbs (meenemen, ophalen)
• How to say by which mean of transport you do sth

Isn't that amazing?