Think language learning is an exercise in futility? I won’t argue with you on that. It’s not impossible, though. I mean, you can memorize a word, can’t you? And if you can memorize one new word from a foreign language, who’s to say you can’t memorize 999 more?
A recent research from neuroscientists out of Cambridge concluded that it takes just 14 minutes to learn a new word, such that you’ll be able to retain it in your active vocabulary. These 14 minutes doesn’t have to be spent in some rigorous mental exercise either. In the study, all they did was have the person listen to the exact same word 160 times during that period.
According to the scientists, listening to the same word over and over prompts the creation of new networks in the brain. That 160-time repetition is, apparently, enough for the memory traces built to be “virtually indistinguishable” from the networks of those already familiar with the word.
So if you’ve ever wondered how long it can take you to learn just one new word of French using the simplest technique imaginable (repeated listening), there’s your answer: a mere 14 minutes of your time. Of course, fluency usually requires a couple thousand words in your arsenal, but the more sophisticated teaching techniques of your language software, along with some time investment on your part, should help bridge the gap.
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