Why we forget the things we learn - 6 Minute English

Improve your English vocabulary and listening in just six minutes!
Many people find it hard to remember things they’ve read or learned while other, sometimes useless, information sticks with them. Georgina and Rob talk about memory, as they teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question :
Chinese student, Chao Lu, has a record-breaking memory. In 2005, she recited the numbers of pi, the mathematical equation describing the proportions of a circle – but how many digits did she manage to remember?
a) 48,000
b) 68,000
c) 88,000
Watch the video to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
photographic memory
the ability to remember things in exact detail, like looking at a photograph

the odds of
the chances or probability that something will happen

a one-off
something that only happens once

suck at (something)
be bad at (doing) something (US)

memorise
learn something exactly so that you can repeat it later

deep learning
a complete way of learning something that means you fully understand it and will not forget it

To download the audio and a transcript, go to:

[Cover: Getty Images]

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#bbclearningenglish #learnenglish #memory #memorise #learning

[sidharthan]

This is really a useful video to me!!!! Thanks a lot ! From now on, every time I study, i will link it to my known things ! Thanks, BBC ❤️😊

[quangthinhphung]

1. photographic memory ~ if you have a photographic memory, you are able to remember things in exact detail.
2. one-off: something that happens or is made or done only once:
Will you be doing more talks in the future or was that just a one-off?
3. to suck at sth (inf) = be bad at sth
4. The odds off sth happening = the chances that it will happen
5. memorise = memorize ~ học thuộc, ghi nhớ
6. deep learning: a complete way of learning sth so that you fully understand it and will not forget it.
7. the chance of sth is SLIM ~ khả năng cái gì xảy ra là rất ÍT
8. cram for (school exams): nhồi nhét kiến thức (trước ngày thi cử)
9. revise sth ~ ôn tập lại (kiến thức)
10. repetition ~ the action of repeating something that has already been said or written

Fun fact: Dr Horvath’s research found that students who cram for tests forget around 90% of what they studied within 72 hours.

[ThaoNguyen-eblo]

Three most important things you need to remember after watching this incredibly awesome video in order not to forget things immediately: repetition, focus and deep learning.

[phuongthao]

I think this is a great video to learn English. It not only improves your skills but also expands your knowledge of the world.

[wagnarok]

All of us need a elephant memory. Therefore, the less we use social media, the more we´ll be able to memorize such things. Less distractions, less distractions. Let´s focus on really matters.

[friendscoffee]

Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Georgina
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Georgina.

Rob
And I’m Rob.

Georgina
Do you have a good memory, Rob? Can you remember people’s names, or where you left your car keys?

Rob
Well, I can remember people’s faces, but I have a terrible memory for names. And sometimes I’ll be eagerly reading a book but then a week later I can’t remember a single thing about it!

Georgina
Well, you’re not alone. Many people find it hard to remember things they’ve read or learned while other, sometimes useless, information sticks with them.

Rob
In this programme, we’ll be finding out why we forget the things we’ve learned, whether that’s someone’s name, a word in English or where you put your wallet.

Georgina
But first let me ask you my quiz question, Rob - before I forget. You and I might struggle to remember someone’s phone number but Chinese student, Chao Lu, has a record-breaking memory. In 2005, she recited the numbers of pi, the mathematical equation describing the proportions of a circle – but how many digits did she manage to remember? Was it:
a) 48, 000?
b) 68, 000? or
c) 88, 000?

Rob
Wow! It sounds like Chao Lu has an incredible memory! I’ll say she remembered b) 68, 000 digits of pi.

Georgina
OK, Rob, let’s remember to find out the answer at the end of the programme.

Rob
OK, will do. Someone like Chao Lu might have a photographic memory – the ability to remember things in exact detail, like looking at a photograph. But for the rest of us, things are more complicated.

Georgina
Dr Jared Horvath is an educational neuroscientist at the University of Melbourne. According to him, there are two rules which explain how we remember information.

Rob
Listen to Dr Horvath talking to BBC World Service programme, The Why Factor, and see if you can hear the two rules he mentions:

Dr Jared Horvath
Rule number one is repetition is key. The odds of remembering something after a one-off are incredibly slim…unless you can immediately link it to something you already understand – so, my middle name is Cuney… if I ever meet someone named Cuney I’ll never forget that ‘cos I have an immediate link… but if I meet someone named Joe… so a one-off, we all pretty much suck at it - unless we focus. So then rule two then becomes, we remember what we focus on.

Georgina
The first rule for remembering is repetition. The odds – meaning the probability, of remembering something are low if you learn it as a one-off - something that only happens once.

Rob
Dr Horvath’s second rule is about focus: we remember what we focus on. This involves making links between new information and something you already understand.

Georgina
These are the most effective methods of remembering, and most of us suck at – or are bad at – other ways of remembering things.

Rob
Now, of course, one group of people who need good memory is students. Do you remember cramming for school exams, Georgina?

Georgina
Ah yes, staying up late trying to revise everything the night before an exam. I remember doing that - but it didn’t work!

Rob
Yes. Dr Horvath’s research found that students who cram for tests forget around 90% of what they studied within 72 hours.

Georgina
He thinks education shouldn’t be about trying to cram students’ heads with facts and figures. It should involve something more meaningful, as he explains to BBC World Service’s, The Why Factor:

Dr Jared Horvath
The thing that I like about education is its really moving from a model of ‘just memorise as much as you can’ into what we now call deep learning which is, instead of giving you a hundred things and I just need to know that you can remember them, I’m going to give you ten things and instead of just being able to remember them, I want you to be able to describe it deeply and come up with new ways of looking at it.

Rob
Traditionally, education involves memorising – learning information exactly as it is so that you can repeat it later.

Georgina
But being able to repeat something like a parrot doesn’t always mean you understand it. Dr Horvath advocates a technique called deep learning – a complete way of learning something that means you fully understand and will not forget it.

Rob
So, remember: repetition, focus and deep learning are the memory muscles we need. Maybe that’s how Chinese student, Chau Lu, developed her record-breaking memory. You do remember your quiz question, don’t you, Georgina?

Georgina
Yes, thank you, Rob - my memory isn’t that bad! I asked you how many digits of the mathematical equation, pi, she could remember.

Rob
And I said b) 68, 000 digits.

Georgina
Which was… the correct answer! Actually, the number was so long it took her over 24 hours without a break to recite it all!

Rob
Oh Wow! Her brain must have be aching after all that. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from this programme starting with a photographic memory which is the ability to remember things in exact detail, like looking at a photograph.

Georgina
The odds of something happening mean the chances that it will happen.

Rob
A one-off is something that only happens once.

Georgina
To suck at something is an informal way to say ‘be bad at doing something’. It’s more common in American English.

Rob
If you memorise something, you learn it exactly so that you can repeat it later.

Georgina
And finally, deep learning describes a complete way of learning something so that you fully understand it and will not forget it.

Rob
OK, well, that’s all from us, but don’t forget to join us again soon for more trending topics and top tips to help you remember useful and everyday English vocabulary. Bye for now!

Georgina
Bye!

[clarissaalves]

When we talk about memory, we must understand that every person has a different memory, some person can have a photograph memory, other can have a mechanic memory ( remember when make notes) or audition memory ( remember what listened) .
Its a great article, great 6 minutes 🤘

[commentdrops]

The video clearly shows us that it isn't uncommon to forget the things that we learn and that we should apply the methods of repetition, deep learning and ability to focus.

[ayshadhasratov]

Thank you so much BBC Learning English team. Its really helps me for enrich my vocabulary and increase my points from listening tests

[kelmiswilsoncastaneda]

Yes it is, I use to struggle with english, but I invole my feelings and emotions in order to stick them in my brain. That is an approach who ever works.

[shaikhparas]

CHAO LU is a guy, not a girl. I did research to see how did she do that and found out that the student was a boy. And thank you so much BBC English for your all efforts.It's a great source to learn English in a more practical way.

[musicforstudyingwithme]

Well, it's such a useful video. There are 2 ways of remembering things. Firstly, repetition, which means that we need to revise the information regularly because the odds of remembering with one-off is incredibly slim. For example, according to the research of Dr. Horvath, students who cram for their exams tend to forget 90% of their studies after 1 week. Secondly, we remember what we focus on. In other words, if you make links between what you already know, with your new information, you can find it easier to remember them.

In general, Fortunately, We have an efficient method to do that, which is called DEEP learning. Instead of trying to remember things as much as you can, you should learn a few things and make sure that you are able to describe them in other ways.

[jyotitan]

1. Repetition
2. Focus
3. Deep learning

[luanmoreira]

When I study english I try repeat and repeat many times the sentences, words, anyway... To don't forget anything. That's good video!

[Bamboo]

I think I have a terrible memory with English. But right now, I'm getting ready to improve my English skills with BBC Learning English day in and day out 👩‍💻💙

[melindaauliadeviani]

Interesting topic, thanks BBC for the video❤❤❤

[sueliishiyama]

I have a terrible memory, so after I watch BBC videos I try to remember the new words in the rest of my day. Sometimes it works. Thanks :))

[sondossedjenna]

Thank you for these practical rules, l want to add something for remembring, I tried which is learning with focus and emotions, believe me all things I did it with deeply emotions, it's easy to remember , when searched about this way, I found that it exists .

[hoachan]

Thank you very much for teaching me the subject of English.I come from Vietnam and love to learn English, have a nice day!

[Raykhonaulmasova]

Hi everyone. I've been watching BBC Learning English for along time and their videos really help me to boost my vocab. And i'm really grateful to all their staff❤❤❤