With the application of the link system, learning foreign vocabulary is simple, fun and effortless. The procedure is as follows:
1 . Convert the foreign word into something that can be visualised.
2 . Convert the translation into something that can be visualised.
3. Link the two using a ludicrous image and absurd actions.
4 . Review by testing yourself immediately after memorising, then at the following intervals: after- 1hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months.
Mandarin Chinese:
Ying Hung - a bank
Picture an inkwell (the vessel used to store ink for fountain pens) being hung in the middle of the bank by a very violent and menacing bank clerk, perhaps because the inkwell has taken an unauthorised overdraft. Picture the scene vividly, with the noose being tightened around the inkwell and the fear in his eyes. Visualise the scene in your bank or your typical idea of what a bank looks like on the inside- it could be in a vault full of gold for example and the inkwell is trying to place his foot on one of the stacks of gold or money to avoid being strangled by the rope.
Fung Chien – the room
Picture a hotel room that is being occupied by a chain that is made out of fungus links instead of metal links. Visualise the fungus chain jumping out of the double bed and into the hotel slippers making its way to the en suite bathroom to wash its face. As always, exaggerate the image- visualise that the fungus chain is enormous and when it is lying in the bed its lower links are bulging out and when it gets out of bed the whole room shakes and all other hotel guests are shouting for it to quiet down.
A crucial note is due at this point; an optimal application of the technique would be to use the same images when breaking down similar sounding sounds in other words. For example, in Chinese, key syllables can be used in several permutations within a word-each meaning a completely different thing. The general approach should then be:
1 . If the whole foreign word sounds similar to an easily visualised object then convert it that way.
2 . Otherwise, break the word down into key sounds and convert these into similarly sounding objects.
3. When new words are encountered, break the sounds in a consistent way; so from the example above, whenever
“Ying” is encountered in any new Chinese word that you learn, make sure you use the image of an inkwell. It is strongly advisable to use a notebook to ensure key sounds are defined and applied consistently (i.e. create a list of unique identifiers).
Japanese Chumon – to order
Picture a patron in a restaurant chewing on a moon and raising his hand to order more food; visualise the gigantic moon in this human’s mouth and his attempts at chewing it down into palatable pieces, but he is so hungry he wants to order more such moons.
French Colère – anger
Picture a dog’s collar that is getting angry at the owner for pulling on him the whole day. Visualise the large and scary collar getting angry and turning redder, with steam emanating from its top- see the owner cowering in fear from this gigantic monster that he has unleashed.
Arabic Tabeeb – a doctor
Picture the hip of a tab (as in the bill) being damaged and the tab limping slowly towards the doctor’s clinic- there the doctor inspects the hip and writes the tab a prescription for the pain.
Visualise absurdity of the tab having a hip and how the doctor is examining the hip with care as it would for any other human.
Exaggerate the sizes and feel the pain the tab must be going through.
Spanish
Sellos (pronounced selyos) – stamps
Picture a lady looking at herself in the mirror and being terrified by the cellulose on the back of her thighs. She is shocked to find that, as she has aged, she has developed horrendous looking cellulite that look like gigantic stamps of different countries. Clearly see the back of her thighs with the massive stamps that connect the skin and
sense the shock she is experiencing.
Integration into daily life
If you are in the process of learning a new language, or always wanted to do so, go and buy a popular study course and work through the lessons as recommended therewith. When new words are encountered, use the system above to memorise them; it is advisable to write the new words down in a notebook and to note down the images used, for future reference if required. This notebook can then be used for the review of the material in the optimal times suggested above. Each entry in the notebook should carry the following information:
a. The foreign word followed by a hyphen.
b. After the hyphen, write down the translation.
c. Next to the translation enter square brackets in which you enter the image for the foreign word.
d . Next to the image of the foreign word enter a hyphen followed by the image of the translation, and close the brackets.
e . It is preferable to use black ink for the information and green ink for the images
f. e.g.
Ying Hung - a bank [ink hung - a bank]
Fung Chien – the room [fungus chain - a room]