Mnemonics put the power of your imagination into learning.
Mnemonics plug your imagination into learning overdrive.
Mnemonics access your right brain. The right brain is creative, imaginative, fluid, and much better at fast learning.
Here’s how mnemonics work.
Mnemonics make a link between the English and the Spanish word that you want to learn. For example:
The Spanish word for bread is pan.
Imagine yourself cooking bread in a pan. Really use your imagination and see yourself in your mind cooking a whole loaf of bread in the pan. The crazier it looks, the better.
By creating a picture in your mind and using your imagination, you access the right brain. Plus, you have a link between the English word bread and the Spanish word for bread, pan.
Here’s some mnemonics you can use right now.
Let’s start with my all-time favourite. The Spanish word for pool is piscina. Imagine a kid always piss in a pool.
Gross, I know, but the more vivid, the better you’ll remember it.
I won’t insist that you vividly imagine the piss in a pool, though.
Adelante (onward)
The Spanish word for beach is playa. This one is nice and wholesome; just imagine you are happy to play at the beach.
And why wouldn’t you be happy to play on the beach? Without that kid around, la playa is cleaner than the la piscina.
The Spanish word for girl is chica. It’s pronounced cheeka.
Imagine a beautiful girl gives you kiss on the cheek and you say, “Ah.”
Or you can imagine a handsome boy gives you kiss on the cheek and you say, ”Oh.” Because the Spanish word for boy is chico.
So a fun day was had by all. It started out badly at the piscina because of the pee problem.
But things got better on la playa, when la chica gave a kiss on the cheek.
And there you have it, amigos.
Let’s see if the memory masters method worked for you.
Do you know what the Spanish word piscina means?
And do you know the meaning of playa, chica, and chico?
I’ll bet you do.
You can check the answers in the P.S.
You might even remember the meaning of the Spanish word pan.
It’s bread.
As they say in Spanish, Es pan comido.
That literally means it’s bread eaten but it’s like saying it’s a piece of cake.
You’ve probably never seen this mnemonic method used to teach Spanish before, but it’s one of my 4 proven systems for anyone to learn Spanish faster at any age.
You can put the power of mnemonics to use right away with the third component in the Shortcut to Spanish package on the link
below.
http://www.shortcuttospanish.com/shortcutmnemonics.html
As you’ll see in Shortcut to Spanish, we go beyond what you learn in this email. I’ll let you in on a few of my additional mnemonic multiplier secrets, coming soon.
Saludos,
Marcus
P.S.
Piscina = pool
Playa = beach
Chica = girl
Chico = boy
Here’s the link again to Shortcut to Spanish. Check out the third component in the package.
I am trying to purchase a program. I am a religious sister who lives in Rome, Italy but my credit card is paid in the US. When I tried to order, the message came up that they know where I live. Given these circumstances, is there a way for me to order your product. I have really enjoyed the program trials. I would like to order the popular program. Thanks for your advice.
Sr. Sheila Kinsey
I’ll contact you via email and see if we can sort it out for you. Forza Roma.
Hi Marcus, they say “you can never teach an old dog new tricks,” how wrong they are! This old dog never believed you would be able to have me speaking Spanish in ten minutes, but how wrong I was. Your method of Mnemonics really helps! Basic Spanish is easy to learn this way without throwing yourself in the deep end; sentences you are more likely to use. When I forget the word I need, my imagination kicks in and hey presto the words roll off my tongue! It is like having an open picture book in your mind. I have recommended you to my amigos who have been struggling with Spanish. Watch out Spain, four old dogs are on their way!
Thank you Marcus, we are having fun learning.
Paul Daniels wrot a book on it
Hi Marcos, I think this mnemonics stuff is very good for native speakers but as I am a native Dutch speaker, I am happy I choose the synergy course which suits me more.I .must say though that I like the approach and it sure works for native speakers..,LOOK forward to receive the synergy course.
Saludos ‘
Marit from rhe Netherlands
Your lesson are very interested, i am thinking about taking the LESSON, BUT I WANT TO KNOW HOW THE COURSE IS WRITTEN PLEASE LET ME KNOW .
Thank You
Ben
Sounds very interesting, I will give it a try.
Ola Marcus,
I live in Spain and speak a wee bit of Spanish.
In my mid 80’s I developed pneumonia which
has effected my memory. I tried various recommendations
ie playing chess and doing x-words with little success.
Then I heard about you. Well, it works, honest.
About 15 minutes a day and I’ve not only improved my
Spanish but my memory as well. Muchas gracias.
Thanks Marcus for your continued effort to teach us Spanish.
Your lessons are very much appreciated.
Hola, Senor Marcos –
Me gustaria su via de aprendiendo el lengua de espanol.
Muchas gracias y Hasta la vista,
Ricardo
Well done this is a good way to remember Spanish
Great way to learn and FUN
I had to laugh because it was really a simple, fun way to learn a Spanish. I enjoyed it.
hi
thanks its very much helpful
Good suggestions. I need hundreds of exsamples like that. My problems come when spanish
persons say these words I must stop and think about the word and then I miss out on other things being said because I am trying to translate.
good method. thank u
A great system. Came across something similar for learning german vocabulary but that system used pyramids and castles as mind storage. For me too complicated. Your system seems simpler so I am giving it a go. Also still struggling with german and Portuguese learning and already I am able to assimilate three words for one english, keeping each language identified in its own right. Only problem now is sentence construction in each 🙁
I find it best to do learn one language at a time. As the saying says, “el que persigue dos liebres, no atrapa ninguna”, (man who chases two hares, catches neither one.)
Hola soy nits michas gracias para au ayuda ..por favor mandate muchas informations con Emil
This means for me as a Norwegian must be better in english!
The mnemonics I created were designed for English speakers. However, if you create your own mnemonics they’ll work even better because you’ll activate you own memory triggers.
Also, many of my best students are from Norway. You can read about some of their success stories in the Scandinavia link on this page:
http://www.synergyspanishsystems.com/blog/real-spanish-success-stories/
if i could just remember the mnemonic. . .
Interesting article. I could never pronounce the Spanish “pie” or foot, because whenever I envisioned the word the word in my head, I couldn’t pronounce it properly. Finally I came up with visualizing “Pee Ay” for someone peeing on my foot and I say “Aaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy what are you doing?” Silly I know, but it really does work.
The sillier they are the easier they are to remember.
I absolutely love the mnemonic method for Spanish, it really helps me to remember! Thanks so much!
I could never remember the word ferreteria-so I used the mnemonic Ferret in your ear. I will never forget thje word now
Dear Marcus,
thank you so much for all your efforts to teach me spanish, Always looking forward to your email. The picture of that beautiful girl on top, that couldn’t be you no ? Marcus is a man’s name.
gracias amigo
Jochai
Nah, I’m the goofy looking guy in the top right corner.
Thank you so much. This is really helping me to learn.
My daily Spanish lesson is a treat.After 3 months I am not rummaging around in the brain any more, wondering how to begin a sentence and then speaking rubbish Spanish. Thank you.
Hi Marcus, well done once again! I subscribed to your shortcut to spanish and the synergy etc some time ago and have them on my computer, however now that i have an ipad the laptop is rarely taken out of the cupboard, is there a way the lessons could be sent to my ipad? It goes with me everwhere and i am sure i would practice more with the lessons easily accessed via my ipad. As i am getting on a bit i am not very good with technology and dont know how to transfer to my ipad my family are back in the u.k. And my husband and i are happily retired to Spain so our sons arnt able to help. Your teaching method is second to none and you deserve all your success! By the way i have a new email address that i use more these days, its the same as above but @me.com would you kindly change your records to the new address so that i dont miss any of your tips, many many thanks, Josie
I hope to have an App later in the year.
I think you have a great way of teaching, I lived with a Spanish women and family members for 12 years they spoke English and Spanish and I don’t think I learned 12 words in 12 years couldn’t keep up with the speed of the language, single words yes sentences know, WOW your way is great!.
Opps a Jew brewing for 29 of his friends. Sorry!
I used this method as i was learning koine greek in 1988, i admit it is a good method. I learned the 29th book of the Bible was Hebrews. I imagined 29 Jews brewing tea in a 55 gallon tub for his friends, get it? he brews 29?
Keep up your good work.
Del
Just bought the pinsler and just by your email I’ve learned more. Saving the money to buy or subscribe to yours.
You are an awesome teacher!!! Brilliant! Loving every minute of my spanish lesson and having soooo much fun!!! Thank you!!
One I used to use with my sister when I first moved to Mallorca was for mujer, not very nice but neither is pissing in the pool a lovely thought MOOO-HER as in a cow mooing and her as for female, my sister and I giggled a lot with this one. Thanks for all your emails, I enjoy your methods. Feliz fin de semana.
these are lovely snippets of language
could start using more spanish than english