The net result of memories

• Source: Global Times
• [08:57 December 27 2010]
• Comments

Nciku's extensive team. Photo: Courtesy of Nciku

Grandmaster of memory Ed Cooke in action.

By George Wyndham

High dropout rates among non-native Chinese-language learners have in the past served to paint a disappointing picture of Mandarin studies in educational institutions worldwide. Surveys recently conducted in Australia show that a lack of motivation among students, prompted by antiquated teaching methods, has resulted in a call for more resources to alleviate stress on those wrestling with learning the language. However, recent developments in technology powered by innovative approaches to studying are becoming increasingly available for free online, possibly signaling an end to the antediluvian days of textbooks and endless copying of characters. The Global Times recently talked to some of the pioneers behind the latest technologies serving to assist stragglers climbing the seemingly insurmountable Mandarin mountain. 

Memories are made of this

The language learning tool Memrise has been creating a stir since winning the 2009 Princeton College Business competition. Primarily focused on transforming the speed and effectiveness of Mandarin character learning, the site was officially launched this year, having been founded by British memory experts Ed Cooke and Greg Detre. Their goal, in their own words, is to allow for "rapid, long-lasting and engaging learning for anybody with an Internet connection."

Mandarin characters are presented on the site with fun pictorial associations, designed to help commit their meanings to a student's memory. The image of the character, and its often amusing cartoon depiction, morph in and out of each other, making the meaning of the word easier to visualize. According to the founders, this method has managed to reconcile the art of memory versus the science of memory by combining adaptive algorithms for testing the student with a rich array of vivid imagery - cartoons, videos, and fine calligraphy. Apparently, it wasn't unusual for someone to learn 500 Chinese characters in a week or two during trials - almost seven times the speed typically achieved by students.

According to memory grandmaster Ed Cooke, the two main scientific principles behind Memrise are scheduled repetition and choreographed testing.

"The first involves reminding people of a character at select times, with gradually increasing gaps between repetitions, adapted to individual learners. For the second we use a repertoire of different ways of testing people to strengthen memories in optimal fashion."

Archaic teaching methods

PhD neuroscientist Greg Detre, who has immersed himself in the scientific literature associated with memory, concludes that current Mandarin learning methods such as flashcards and character copying are outdated and do not reflect the optimum learning techniques science has uncovered.

"Because the context of testing is always the same, something like a flashcard tends to give rise to highly context-specific abilities, where you can recall an item when you're looking at the other side of a flashcard, but not when you're on the street or in conversation," he said. "By using a variety of different kinds of test and cue, Memrise helps people build robust memories that are easily recalled across a variety of real-world contexts."

The site was partially inspired by other co-founder Ben Whatley's frustration with the banal teaching methods he faced when studying Chinese in the city of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province. He told the Global Times of the fundamental mnemonic problems often associated with learning Chinese from Chinese teachers.

"As most Chinese learn their language from birth, there is already a massive memory structure in place and most teaching is formulated around the assumption that this memory structure is in place in foreign students. Of course, because of our vastly differing languages, it isn't."

Currently the site is still gaining momentum, having already broken into many English universities, but there is still some way to go. Critics point out that while Memrise helps in single character recognition, as yet the site is unable to correct grammar and sentence structure, a vital component of learning Mandarin. Memrise is, however, a work in progress and according to its founders these problems will be addressed in the near future.