Memorizing

Day 2, Friday: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. Take any approach you’d like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)

              I have always been pretty good with memorizing.   From the time I was a child, I have been able to hear something and recall it at a moment’s notice, especially when it was something important to me.  For example:

                “No, Lydia. I never said that I would get you a Barbie sports car.”

                “Yes you did.”

                No, I didn't. I think I would remember if I promised you something so expensive.”

                “When we were at Aunt Shirley’s two Saturdays ago— and I know it was two Saturdays because the Thundercats special was on,  you were talking about Jennifer’s baby shower, and you told me “’if you help decorate and get the food ready, and if you will stay in the room and play during the party, I will get you that pink car you've been wanting.’”

                “Oh.”

                My ability to memorize did stop with remembering what people had said, but always in my school work and reading. To this day, I can pick up a romance book that I read during high school and remember what it was about, and my husband knows that he better watch what he promises. For example, he often tells me he will go to a friend’s party with me three weeks before the party.  But when the day comes, I hear, “You never told me about it.” To which I reply, hand on hip, “ I was sitting on that end of the couch, and you were right here. Hope had just gotten out of the shower and asked if she needed to babysit Julian for the party. You said ‘What party,’ and I told you “Jim and Rebecca are having a party to celebrate Jim’s graduation. It’s on the 25^th—and yes, you have to go.’ So don’t tell me I never said anything.” Ha!

                I really became aware of my ability to memorize while in college. There was a time, in my early years of college that I majored in theater. Part of being a theater major was performing, or at least auditioning, for the many plays that were performed both within the college or for community theater. Once the excitement of landing the big role passes, for most actors and actresses, panic sets in. “How am I going to remember these two hundred and fifty lines!”  I remember getting one of the main Kindertransport at SWOSU. In one week, I memorized 185 lines. (for those unaware of “lines”—this doesn't mean sentence. One line can be a monologue that last for two minutes in the middle of the scene.

  Whether memorizing terms for a test or lines for a production, it is always the best to follow steps.

Memorizing terms/ dates:

1. Prepare a full list of the words that will be on the test and include their written definition.

2. Break the list into sections of five terms, and concentrate only on these terms until they are easier and more familiar to recall.

3. Beginning with the first term, write the word and the definition five times while reading it aloud.

4. Close your eyes, breathe, and picture the term and definition in your head.

5.  Say the definition aloud, if you can remember most of the definition, (it doesn’t have to be perfect), move on to the second term and definition.

6. Repeat steps 3-4 on the second term.

7. Read the two terms and definitions aloud. Then, put the paper down, and do it again by memory. (It is okay to glance if you get stuck)

8. Repeat steps 3-7 for each of the five terms, adding one term at a time until the five are complete.

9. Take a break.

10. Come back and list them all by memory on paper. The definitions don’t have to be exact.

11. Repeat all steps for each section of five.

* I know this seems like it takes a long time, but it works. See, the more you repeat the term and definition, the less you will have to write down; longer definitions will slowly disappear and become key words. Not only does this show that you are learning the information but this also shows that you have narrowed the definition down into its most streamlined form, making it easier to remember. Therefore, by the time you are making your final (five) list of terms and definitions. You will find that the most important and easiest to recall information will be left.

Memorizing lines:  I used the same method for memorizing lines, but there is an addition to this process; the last few words of the previous lines (the other character’s lines) should be written as prompts for the repetition of lines out loud. This is important because the last few words of the other character’s lines are what helps with recall and setting pace in a production.  Read prompt line aloud—then, from memory, repeat your line aloud—back and forth for the whole section. Remember too that it is important to memorize word for word on lines.