Why we forget the things we learn - 6 Minute English 

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 ❤️😊

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 01:42 🧠 Dr. Jared Horvath explains two rules for remembering information: Rule 1 - Repetition is key. Rule 2 - We remember what we focus on. 03:18 📚 Students who cram for tests forget around 90% of what they studied within 72 hours. Deep learning, understanding, and making meaningful connections are more effective than rote memorization. 04:52 🧠 Chinese student Chao Lu memorized 68,000 digits of pi, demonstrating an incredible memory and likely using repetition and deep learning techniques. Made with HARPA AI

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.

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

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 🤘

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.

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

1. Repetition 2. Focus 3. Deep learning

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 👩‍💻💙

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.

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.

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 .

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 :))

Well, i am learning for the IELTS. To me, BBC 6 munite is really good channel to help people like me can practise listening skill and obtain a plethora of useful vocabularies. Thanks, BBC

Interesting topic, thanks BBC for the video❤❤❤

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

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❤❤❤

This information is vital and I'm glad it was relayed to us in only 6 minutes. Thank you

BBC learning English, I can't forget your help to me to learn English, just I say thanks a lot for your kindness

Really useful and helpful for me. Really thank you BBC. You are so amazing! The best channel in the world 🌍

This is very useful to be with things which you learn, not only to learn them. If it is part of your life, it'll get with you forever. Whether it is a thing only for use, it'll be gone when you stop to use it.

Thanks for the great podcast! I think Repetition, focus and deep learning BBC 6 Minute English podcasts are essetional factors that we need to learn English.

I think if we understand something very cleary you'll never forgot. So when you want to learn something and you want to keep it in your mind you have to understand it. No matter how long you'll never forgot it (from my experience)

Thank you so much it's very useful.

The photograhic memory is much beter than a normal memory, also repeatation is a best tool for increase the memory.Thankyou for this outstanding video.

The other side of deep learning is that 6 minutes turns into 3 minutes. Thank you BBC

Key tips for remembering things, experimented by Dr.Jared Horvath are amazing.Yes immediate linking of what we learn with past event helps in recalling it better,my personal experience.Thanks a bunch BBC Learning English for your laudable service.

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Thanks to BBC Learning English

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One of the best podcasts that I ever met !!!

My first and progressive ways of learning English were at the beginning of 90's years. In temptative manner I memorize that time when i listened BBC learning English by AM waves on 41 MHz on my radio receiver. The core things that remained is the manner and structure of these lessons until nowadays. Thank you a lot BBC. I will always remember you best methodic of representing English grammar and materials, It's unforgettable. But now i have to raise up my knowledge of English together with you.

Cram = Study intensively, as before an exam. "When I went into university for the first time ( the second is about to happen) I crammed so badly. Maybe it's because I chose the wrong course."

Actually this lesson is really useful for me 👍👍👍 l hope you again you make a lot of lesson in the world student's

Thank you for you, my name is Moath from jordan. Your chanal is very useful for any person wants learn English language. I will continue see you. I hope to help me.

I'm not the one who study in a deep way. Therefore, I totally forget what I've learned after a one-off. Besides, My memory sucks at remembering things which I've heard before. I'm really concerned about that. Btw, I really look up to Chao-Lu who has a record-breaking memory.

i try to find a video like all those, becase of the ENglisho tone of voice helpme to improve my lisening , thanks alot, sincerely jorge espinosa from mexico

Always listening, always understanding!

Thanku very much for this wonderful video. I’m trying to speak in English now a days. So this videos are really helpful for me to understand new words. In my school days also I crammered 😢.thanks

the best channel to learn English thank you

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Wow it's really amazing and helpful for me 😉. Really thank you again BBC learning English channel. The best learning site in the world 🌍😊

What a helpful video from BBC! I got the same trouble of forgetting the names of people I've met and things I've already learned. Thank you so much for your tips because I believe that they will help me and many people to memorize when we study something or meet somebody new.

I believe this video is useful for my mind

Interesting information! Bbc ' s all programs are useful for learners.I really convey my sincere thanks to whole team of BBC.

A very relatable topic 🥲🥲🥲🥲

That is really informative! we need to memoraize deeply to understand what we want to repeat.

Thanks for the video.

i would say that, the best way to memorize things is to bond with something(better with emotions), such as you learn something quicker when you argue with someone coz emotions control. Also to be able to keep those in your brain, repetition is vital.

The video is curious because it shows us why we forget the things we learned. We usually learn or memorize something, but in a period of time we don't remember it anymore. Repetition is one of the techniques that can be used in order to better retain information. Students, for instance, learn like this.

Thank you so much , interesting material , and perfect pronunciation in authors it’s so important for learning English

Thanks bbc🥰 your vidio is a good and very amazing

Thanks a lot for sharing such useful information. Yes, repeating is the best way for memorizing.

what I've learned from this video A. vocabulary: 1. to recite: say ST you have learned (a story, a poem) to SB 2. to memorize: to remember ST 3. to suck at: to bad at 4. to cram for: to learn many things in a short time to prepare for an exam 5. to revise ST: looking at ST again and again so that you can remember it 6. one - off: just happenind once 7. repetition: the act of making ST the same things in many times 8. deely learning: fulling understanding 9. photographic memory: excellent memory 10. the odds of ST happening: the probability of ST happening 11. incredibly slim: 12. eagerly: excited 13. record-breaking: the act of breaking a record B. knowledge: 3 things to remember things effectively: 1. repetition 2. focus 3. deely learning

I reckon that I have a mechanic memory which means remembering things by taking notes.And yes,as BBC mentioned in video, we need to be careful in memorizing important things not to be just a one-off. Stick this fact all the time that you will be able to remember all things you've learned if you had linking knowledge and deep,focused learning.

Thank you BBC learning. It was really informative video

The video is very usefull for my learning English. Thanks BBC

Great technique. Thank you BBC!

This program is helpful for people learning english!!

I love this one . I wanna make my English be more fluent..

Good things for memory, and thank you so much,

Thank you.

I'm uzbek . this lesson is very useful THANK YOU

Excellent topic that You have treated is key in learning process

thank you for usefull information.MAY BE IT `LL TURN INTO MY LIFE TO THE POSITIVE SIDE

Oh ! Thank you very much ! Useful wit a very interesting topic I really liked it !

Our meeting is one off because she died in one week after we met. Joey has a photographic memory , he can describe exactly what he has learned even after a year. I used to cram before every test when I was at university. The odds of me meeting Angela is very low as she and I live in different countries. I am suck at playing football

Wonderful !! I like the way you have been using to intoduce the podcast ... You literally make the presentation useful, amusing and awesome..😊

Very well the video BBC learning English

Cống hiến hơn nữa trong sự nghiệp của mình. Một lần nữa cảm ơn Đức Phúc và chương trình đã mang đến những giây phút thư giãn này. Mãi yêu!!!❤❤❤

I think this video is very usefull fo me, it helps me to know way to remember eveything well.

Very helpful indeed! Thanks!👍😊

BBC I LOVE, that is question of Family un other time my mother's cousin learning with you, on The radio, in The Cannarys Islands, at The Second World War. Others in my Family work very Wells, because learning English with BBC. For this de reason I'm LOVE BBC.

I created my own table sheet in Excel which I use to remind me when and what I should have been studying, it works automatically, I just need to put the content and the date.

THANK YOU THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!

Useful vedio for me. Thank you ❤

When you understand something clarely , you rarely forget about it .. in addition one of good ideas to memorize thing is to band it with another thing you remember

Very good lesson

This is so informative and useful video for people to try to improve themself in English. I will not forget these methods which are Repetition, Focus, and Deep Learning and I will use them when I study English. Thank you so much, BBC for sharing this video with us.

So To increase my odds to learn something i should follow theses way of learning : focus and pay attention 100 percent to what i read or listen; repeat what i understand; and deep learning which group the two first methods plus recall and usage of what i learn

Can i enhance my listening up to band 9 by listening consistently to these podcasts?

It is a so useful video for improving listening experience.....

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Thanks

Our brain has an amazing ability to cleanse of useless information. Side effect of that is that sometimes we loose sth which we would love to keep for longer.

my memory so bad, i thought that is the result of drink alcohol for many years ago. So now I trying to improve by have healthy life, try to focus when do something

Really interesting. Thanks for sharing

If we listen other English speaker, I think their voice quality is much much better than BBC English, please improve voice quality thanks. While pronunciation and accent is excellent 👍 voice is dim due to low audio quality.

Good video thanks from Algeria.

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Thank YOu

This is really a useful video to meeeee❤

In my case, I do not know why I understand many words in english but when I try to speak in english, I use the same vocabulary, because I forget to use the words that I have already learned. Do you have some tips to improve this situation?