Well, if you repeat exercises as I talk about in the post, you’re TESTING yourself again.
Even the words in the notebook when I review them I block out the translations so I’m also testing instead of reviewing.
Maybe I should have made that more clear in the post.

Thanks for the comment.

Hi Johnson,

I still like this system even though I’ve tried many others since. For a few reasons:

It’s simple.
It works effectively enough.
You’re writing things down – which helps memorization.
You don’t have to use a PC or Smart Phone (depending on your source material) – as they can be very distracting devices.

To answer your questions:

1. I’m not sure I completely understand your question. Only on day 1,2 and 7 you make a complete pass through the unit. Also, what I did was make three initial passes through the unit, ideally on day one. If this took longer then a single day, I’d mark the day I completed these as day two in my agenda, even it was really day four. I’d then add 5 days to the date to set the seventh day, even it was really day nine.

As I say in the article: “Be flexible about your dates. Sometimes you may have to move a day around here and there. Don’t exaggerate but don’t fear it either. The Forgetting-Curve hypothesis makes a lot of sense but it’s unlikely that repeating something on day 31 instead of day 30 leads to a much bigger loss of the learned information.”

2. It depends on the size of the lessons.

3. Well, another system that works and can be a lot of fun is building memory palaces. I did a case study on such a course. You can find it here:

https://www.smartlanguagelearner.com/case-studies/how-to-learn-and-memorize-the-vocabulary-of-any-language/

All the best,
Noel

I truly appreciate this article and just have three questions so I can be fully illuminated on this style of memorisation. I intend to begin using your method, however as I study both Law & Business in University and Russian in my spare time, I am curious about how you recommend dealing with memorisation sessions overlapping.

Here is an example of my query in practice: If I were to begin my first memorisation session for “Topic 1” on January 1st and repeated it again on January 2nd as per the instructions, but meanwhile hoped to begin “Topic 2” on January 2nd which of course would then be repeated on January 3rd.
Adding a new Topic everyday would eventually require overlap to such a degree that every day after January 7th I would seemingly be covering 3 separate lessons everyday, until I reached 4 lessons a day on January 30th and so forth.

1. Have I properly understood how the system works for those studying a new topic daily? From your experience, are there any tricks for combatting this workload while maintaining progress?

2. What is your opinion on the daily method I outlined above, can such an information overload be counterproductive to memorising using this system?

3. Throughout your experience have you found a more ideal variation for dense memorisation, perhaps shorter intervals or some form of synchronising similar topics? Maybe even another system altogether?

I truly appreciate your feedback, thus far I have learnt equally from your article and your replies to other readers’ previous comments. Thank you for selflessly sharing your wisdom 🙂

Kind Regards

Hey Suchit,

Nice to see you around here.

1.You could do that. You have to use common sense. I think if it’s purely a READING lesson and there are no exercises, you should pass through it and note down what you don’t understand and then repeat only these parts on the second day (and all the other days).

2. I think the above also answers your second question, right?

Any more questions? Let me know.

All the best,
Noel

I am having few queries about repetition days concept.

1] Suppose if I am reading a lesson which is having 80 pages and if I am able to complete only 20 pages on day 1, than on day 2 should I repeat the first 20 pages and than start with the remaining pages or start with remaining 60 pages.
2] Also, In your article your have mentioned ” Mark the day you complete the unit as Unit X Day 2 in your agenda. It doesn’t matter if you worked eight days on the unit”. Then in this case do you mean to say that on eight day I should start my 2nd repetition form page 1 [beginning]which might take another 4 days as I have already ready the topic once.
Kindly please clarify the same.

Thanks, Noel. Good point – if I haven’t retained it with the reviews I’ve done, it’s time to try a different memory method. I do a lot of model sentences for grammar (have started an Anki deck of them) but Korean grammar is so different from English it’s tough. Because there are so many connectives and endings that add meaning, I have to basically treat it like vocabulary. Anyway – thanks again, gracias, and 감사합니다!

Cindy

Thanks, Cindy.

Great to hear that it’s working for you!

Great question, as well.

I think that what you haven’t retained after 90 days is just something that needs a little more attention.

For example, for words you could use mnemonics (especially memory palaces are very effective) or simply planning to use them in a conversation works well, too.

Grammar is slightly more complicated but sufficient exposure to the specific grammar construction usually works well.

When there’s grammar I’d like to learn, I always write down a phrase or two in my notebook and a very short translation/explanation. This is usually better than large explanations as they’re not likely to stick.

That something isn’t retained isn’t a bad thing. It’s like a guide. It tells you what to work on.

Noel

I came across your website a few months ago and started using this method in both my Korean and Spanish language study. Spanish is a new language for me but I’ve lived in Korea for 17 years and have studied the language with varying degrees of commitment over the years. I am retaining SO much more using this method than with all of the things I have tried in the past. I’m also picking up Spanish much more quickly than I did Korean, though of course Spanish is much more similar to my native English. Question for you and sorry if it’s been addressed in a comment that I didn’t see. When I get to my 90 day review of material, what do I do with vocabulary or grammar that I haven’t retained? Does it go back in as something new and get reviewed on the 2, 7, 30, 90 schedule or should it just be reviewed again at some other interval? Thanks for the great information and great site.

Great to hear you like it, Mike.

Yes, it can also be used for other stuff, it’s not just for language learning.

Thanks for stopping by again!
Noel