How to do free recall (AKA active recall) - Language learning demonstration

Free or active recall is one of the simplest and most effective ways of studying. You can use it for language learning, learning anatomy, learning history - anytime you want to remember information in the long-term. But many students are either unaware of free recall or don't know how to do it very well.

In this video, I demonstrate free recall and explain a little bit about why it works.

00:00 Introduction
00:29 A demonstration of free recall.
2:07 Round two.
3:14 Recommended intervals.
4:00 Why does free recall work?
5:33 Troubleshooting the technique.

References:

On the superiority of free recall to elaboration, see:

Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger III, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. science, 319(5865), 966-968.

Free recall is most effective only when the items have been "cleared" from your short term memory.

Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger III, H. L. (2007). Repeated retrieval during learning is the key to long-term retention. Journal of Memory and Language, 57(2), 151-162.

On optimal spacing intervals, see:
Carpenter, S. K, Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H. K., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24, 369-378.

Free recall "enhances organizational processes". In other words, it reduces interferences and helps us to organize what we know.

[ziddi_paradox]

This beats every video of spaced repetition... if u are here means you finally found the gold on how to remember anything...

[raiyanreza]

im not even kidding, this is by far, one of the best methods I've seen on youtube! Yes, subjective but it beats all the other "popular" videos on "How to study".

[MsTranthihai]

I have been in the habit of using this technique for many years but never knew its name and the scientific reasons behind it. Your explanation makes sense.

I always write on a piece of paper with a pen whenever I have some spare time -- for example, waiting for a doctor's appointment or waiting for the bus or queuing up or waiting for friends or anyone for an appointment. I found that this way of writing helps me remember very well. For the most recent example, more than 2 years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, because of relatively free time, I started to self-study Thai. Surprisingly, it worked because I started self-studying Thai when I was 50 years old, which is usually considered too old to learn any new languages.

PS: By the way, English is a foreign language for me so watching videos like this and writing and reading comments in English (especially written by native speakers) is also a way to practice the language.

[ReflectionOcean]

By YouSum Live

00:00:00 Free recall as powerful study strategy.
00:00:10 Technique applicable to various subjects.
00:00:24 Study material, take break, then recall.
00:01:19 Recall character, pronunciation, meaning.
00:01:54 Review missed information, make corrections.
00:02:06 Repeat recall rounds, improving each time.
00:02:40 Organize related information together.
00:03:38 Technique enhances long-term memory retention.
00:04:19 Active recall reduces memory interference.
00:04:45 Practice recall for effective learning.
00:05:18 Optimal intervals for memory strengthening.
00:05:56 Adjust intervals based on recall success.

By YouSum Live

[anupamsengupta]

I don't know why your video hasn't got the views in comparison to other videos on " how to memorize"/ " how to remember" but this video is surely one of the best on internet.

[bcan]

Wow it's amazing being able to name a technique I'd used while in school. I always preferred to study with a whiteboard on my lap, being able to test myself, erase, study something else, retest later. I was always envious of my more studious friends who had the drive to make flashcards, but thanks to your videos I feel less bad.
Thank you for all these free resources, they are appreciated

[malina_]

One of my teachers in Islamic studies used to tell us "stop writing and listen" but he gave up when he saw that we couldn't stop doing that. But seeing your video I understand better why he would say that. He has himself travelled and learned with teachers in the desert in a traditionnal islamic way and I guess there was no note taking and he has so much knowledge.

[Tiago]

This method is pretty similar to the Dr. Feyman used to learn different subjects. I will give it a try for sure!
Thanks for the video!

[isidoracorteshormazabal]

This is the best free software Ive seen. Respect

[justmalik_]

A good tip for choosing intervals: Laying out the intervals along the Fibonacci Sequence is pretty helpful and I read somewhere, that science actually looked into this. For example: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 is part of the sequence. I would fist go for something like 10 Minutes 2-3 hours (like in the video) and then choose your intervals in days like in the sequence, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days etc.

[kevingeoghegan]

Phenomenal explanation. I can’t believe you only got 11k views in a year! This should be recommended viewing for every student.

The thing I most dislike about flashcards like Anki, is that they tend to concentrate on what you get wrong or don’t know rather than what you do know in the name of ‘efficiency’; the ‘why study what you already know?’ paradigm. You tend to develop an increasingly difficult set of cards to learn and it just becomes so demoralising.

[gregorybresnahan]

This technique is my go to in graduate school. I appreciate that you said to be patient with yourself when you need to practice a few times over. Thanks for everything you do, Benjamin!

[eV]

I love the quote "It's just me and a blank piece of paper and really trying to understand what I know"

[kanutaro]

I was reading a book aimed at helping med students pass their first year (it's a competitive entrance exam and not a typical undergrad year in my country) and this is exactly the advice they gave. Study the material first, distract yourself for 5 minutes by reading something completely unrelated to what you're learning, write down on paper what you learned, check the things you've missed. It's surprising for me to see this method being demonstrated, I thought it was obscure. Thank you for posting this

[paulinemurray]

I am so impressed by the fact that you answer the questions so thoroughly. I find it makes a connection and a feeling of involvement that I don’t get from most videos. Thank you for your efforts.

[josemanuelochoacardona]

Hi🎉, I work in call center industry and we have to learn a LOT of information, and you technique was so far the best study method I found over years of trying different techniques (Anki, memory palace, mnemonics, etc) thank you for sharing your knowledge with us 😊

[stageconvention]

You have no idea how many times I watched your videos especially this one

[ClearBlueSky]

Im so glad I found your channel and Dr Sungs channel, Honestly you guys are the ones I see who give out actual study advice thats not flashcards !!
Going to try this out for my upcoming exam ! 😊

[chillociraptor]

Straight to the point. Useful, functional, and entertaining. Thanks, Ben!

[kori]

I just discovered this channel today. I definitely agree with other comments that say that this is one of the best videos about studying methods. It showcases real and applicable examples and the content is explained succinctly.

Edit: I have some questions and conflicts about this technique. For context, I am a Physics student, so there are many concepts, ideas and derivations I have to learn and remember, plus I have to do practice problems which not necessarily test every important detail about what I've just learned, so there are a few gaps.
1. How do I know when I can stop studying to take a break to clear my mind and later do free recall? Is it until I lose my focus or until I get overloaded of information (and how would I know if I've gotten information overload?)
2. Can I study other topics or subtopics (can these be closely related to what I had studied before since studying a similar topic could slow down the forgetting process?) during the breaks? I feel like doing a different activity for 15 minutes or 2 hours and not visiting back what I was trying to learn during that period of time makes my progress really slow. To put this into an example, let's keep using the vocabulary learning demonstration. So first, I try to learn 30 words, then I take the 2 hour break and after the break I do free recall. Now, during the 2 hour break, can I learn 30 different words?
3. Can the break (of 2 hours) before the second free recall round be shorter? I don't know but I feel like my memory isn't that good, although I may be underestimating my mind