Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:04 am Post subject: Super Memo
Distrustful and reserved, I decided to buy "Super Memo - Advanced". Started to use it some 2 weeks ago. I know that it requires some discipline (working daily is absolutely necessary) but not too much effort (15 minutes a day is not exhausting). With some experience with learning foreign languages, I came to a conclusion that the source of success is not in the amount of time devoted to studying, but in a proper frequency of repetitions. I agree with someone who said that a person with the avarage "talent for languages" (like me ) requires a new word to be repeated consciously at least six times before he/she remembers it. I would add one more and very important thing: time interval between repetitions must also be correct.
For the time being I am really satisfied with the "Super Memo". It really works in my case. The only problem I can face is that I may lose determination, the key factor of succesful learning, but hopefully I won't.
How are you doing with SuperMemo? I've been using the freeware Windows 98 version for about 6 months now, and it has vastly expanded my Italian vocabulary. Just curious, what language are you using it for?
Hi David,
I'm using "Advanced English". It really works, but I must admit I'm not as regular as "Super Memo" requires to be. Still, I have learnt such words that sometimes I can even surprise my English friend. For example, I used the word "qualm" - he insisted there is no such word in English language until I showed him on the internet that there is.
Anyway, I find at least two negative things about "Super Memo":
a) you need to be really patient and determined because the process of learning can be boring; it's not the method for faint-hearted
b) Polish translation (I'm from Poland) of certain words is inadequate or even wrong - it's not frequent but still...
Still, I have learnt such words that sometimes I can even surprise my English friend. For example, I used the word "qualm" - he insisted there is no such word in English language until I showed him on the internet that there is.
Really? No way... I thought it was quite a common word. I don't think it is used in the singular form, though.
I have only ever heard of SuperMemo but never used or even tried it. It must be useful but I don't think I could spend so much time and energy on it. You need to type and sit in front of the computer a lot and I'm still quite paper-based.
By the way, it's a Polish innovation, isn't it? I've recently read an article about the bloke who invented it. He seems to have a strange lifestyle... _________________ Az alvástól megéhezem. Az evéstől elálmosodom. Az élet szép.
Really? No way... I thought it was quite a common word. I don't think it is used in the singular form, though.
I have only ever heard of SuperMemo but never used or even tried it. It must be useful but I don't think I could spend so much time and energy on it. You need to type and sit in front of the computer a lot and I'm still quite paper-based.
By the way, it's a Polish innovation, isn't it? I've recently read an article about the bloke who invented it. He seems to have a strange lifestyle...
Well, I should have been more precise: he did know about the word "qualm" (yes, it has the singular form but indeed I have always heard the plural form of it only) in the meaning of "scruple". I meant the word in the meaning of "feeling of sickness".
Yes, to be honest I have neglected the Super Memo recently, it started to be boring. I prefer to learn the new words by watching an English or American film with English subtitles. I have always my CD dictionary in the background and whenever I feel I need to check the meaning of the word I just pause the film and look it up.
I don't know anything about the guy who invented it, could please say something more?
Well, I should have been more precise: he did know about the word "qualm" (yes, it has the singular form but indeed I have always heard the plural form of it only) in the meaning of "scruple". I meant the word in the meaning of "feeling of sickness".
Oh, I see...
KSa wrote:
I prefer to learn the new words by watching an English or American film with English subtitles. I have always my CD dictionary in the background and whenever I feel I need to check the meaning of the word I just pause the film and look it up.
Me, too. I mean I do the same way, too.
KSa wrote:
I don't know anything about the guy who invented it, could please say something more?
His name is Piotr Wozniak and yes, he is Polish, I looked it up. I'll give you the link to the article - I think it gives a better description of his eccentricities than I could ever do.
Thanks Liz. Interestingly, I didn't know that the Super Memo inventor was from Poland
One more comment about the method. I agree that one should repeat a word or a phrase in the very strict time intervals but the duration of these intervals depends on how you score yourself. There are six grades (from zero to excellent) and my doubt is whether we can score ourselves objectively.
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) requires a new word to be repeated 
I don't think it is used in the singular form, though.
