How I remember new words faster

A super simple hack

I’m learning Ukrainian right now. My trajectory has looked like this:

• 2 months of study in August and September of of 2024. More specifically, I spent 30 hours watching YouTube videos and 35 hours of conversation with a tutor

• Zero study from September 2024 onward

• Three hours of study this week

Things have not gone according to plan.

I intended on starting off with a 25-hour self-study online course. To my surprise, it was easy - I finished it in about 1 hour. Turns out the course was for people with zero background in Ukrainian whatsoever.

Therefore, I’m instead using an app called LingQ.

LingQ is an app with reading and listening material for various languages. It’s a bit tricky to figure out how to use at first, but it is worth the effort. I’m a fan.

I’m encountering so many new words…but I am not overwhelmed.

Here’s my three-step process to remember a new word:

1. Look it up. In LingQ, that’s quite easy to do. If I weren’t using LingQ, I would use an online translator such as Google Translate.

2. Keep reading/listening. I don’t force myself to try memorizing the word.

3. Draw a doodle. Does the same word keep coming up? If yes, I’ll doodle something quickly that helps me remember it. If I’m lazy, I imagine a doodle in my head.

Bonus: I create a list of “I hate you” words.

These are words that I don’t like one bit. I hate them. They often have lots of letters, are hard to pronounce, or that don’t seem useful. I ignore those words. I just think “ugh…what a dumb word. I hate you Mr. Dumb Word. I’m not gonna learn you. Go erase yourself from the dictionary.”

I also never beat myself up for forgetting a word multiple times.

It’s normal. I remember when I lived in France for the first time, I kept forgetting the French word for kitchen sink. I think my homestay family reminded me every week for months before one day it finally stuck.

If a word escapes me over and over, I turn it a “I hate you” word.

It somehow takes the pressure off and allows me to move forward without frustration.

As a summary…

Every time you see/hear a new word I:

1. Look it up

2. Keep flowing (don’t force myself to remember it in the moment)

3. Draw a doodle on paper or in my head if I repeatedly encounter the same word

I turn tricky words into “I hate you words” and pretend they doesn’t exist. Erase em’ vigorously from the dictionary!

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A few housekeeping items….

Fluency Roadmaps: I’ve had about 50-100 people request a roadmap for their level. Based on initial feedback, I feel it’s important to mention that these roadmaps are designed for structured adult learners who:

1. Are serious about reaching fluency

2. Will dedicate 3+ hours a week to studying

3. Feel a bit lost and aren’t already following another pathway to fluency

If you don’t have a roadmap and would like one, email me and write FLUENCY ROADMAP in the email body. I’ll send it over for free. The Fluency Roadmap is guiding my Ukrainian studies right now.

At-Home Fluency Kit: If you are learning a language more casually and the roadmap isn’t the right fit for you, I have an At-Home Fluency Kit. It’s much more flexible. Email me if you want it.

Language exchange in Calgary: If you live in Calgary, I am resuming my language exchanges! They used to be a hit, but I got too busy and had to stop hosting. If the attendance is high this month, I will keep them going. RSVP here.