S H O R T- T E R M M E M O R Y

& N O T E - TA K I N G
 SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Short-term memory working properly involves
three stages:
• First, an effective processing of sounds into
known words, then from known words into
pieces of information.
• Second, the effective storage of these
portions.
• Third, the retrieval, at the right time, of this
information.
 To practice short-term
memory, you better use
short texts.
PRACTICE
SHORT-TERM
MEMORY You can analyze words in
context and get the
information from those
words.
 PRACTICE SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Shadowing
Repeat what the speaker says, word for word, in the same
language.
The texts used should be relatively small, but may increase
gradually in size.
à force you to store and recall small groups of sounds, words
and chunks of information in a relatively short period of time.
PRACTICE SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Freer shadowing with a twist

This exercise should only be done after you have done the previous
exercise successfully, and when you can repeat long texts without
problems.

You not only repeat what was said but whenever possible tries to
say the same thing using other words.

Usually, this paraphrasing of the original is should not be practiced

with legal talks.
 Progressively expanding the capacity to
recall

Good memory must be developed gradually. PRACTICE

SHORT-
TERM
Identify the main idea when listen to a 50 to
60-word talk after the first listening

During the second or third listening, you should

MEMORY
be able to add more details to the main ideas.

At the third listening, you are expected to

recall all the details.
NOTES
By knowing that you don’t have to recall all
details from the start, you will be more
relaxed and will remember more details.

Over time, you become more proficient, so

you should limit yourself to listening to
other talks just two times.

The ultimate goal is, after listening only one

time, that you can recall all the details in a
talk of around 50 words.
 Visualization
• Most people are visual learners. They remember things
they see better than listening or reading on paper.
• Images remain in our minds much longer than abstract
PRACTICE information. For this reason, visualization helps to keep
SHORT-TERM in mind different types of information by creating
MEMORY mental images.
• Visualization exercises may be completed with oral
recall or, in some cases, by drawing the images it
involved. In other words, recalling memories does not
always have to be done through words.
SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Attentive listening for key elements
• Careful listening is important for memory recall.
• If you don't listen carefully, it will be impossible to
remember later.
àAttentive listening means to get key points in a
speech.
You can listen to a short talk, then answer questions
like “Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?”.
Of course, it might not be possible to answer all
these questions in every case, but to answer most of
them means that you get the key points.
 What needed?

use A5 sized note pad (can hold the pad in one

hand, can turn pages while standing w/o covering
your face)

NOTE-TAKING
TECHNIQUES notes should have a ring, otherwise, number the
pages.

write with a pencil or at least a ballpen (not so

messy); and have some sharpened pencils
handy/(have SOME spare ones in case it breaks)
 General rules
Don’t despair if performance goes down
• Note-taking is to help memory, not to replace it.
• No hard-and-fast rule. Many possible ways of taking notes. The
NOTE- one taught by trainers is ONLY one possibility.
TAKING • The end result is most important.
TECHNIQUES
• YET, one shouldn’t be tempted to note down or take short-
hand of everything one hears, even if it is possible.
• use ONE side of the page only, so that you can turn the pages
easily when interpreting.
 NOTE-TAKING
What to note? TECHNIQUES
• quotations, When to note?
• STRUCTURE,
• TENSES (present, past,
• KEY words,
future),
• only note when you
• LINKS, understand/after
• make a sign (joke/not
• factual elements
like NAMES, DATE,
main part...) analyzing what you hear.
• note things one tends to
NUMBERS,
forget: I think, I believe ...
NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES
How to note?
• notes must be ELEGIBLE at a glance/ eye-catching
• don’t write in lines but write

vertically
• use symbols and abbreviations for words and ideas. One can and
should develop his own abbreviations and symbols and use them
consistently.
• use concept maps and diagrams
NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES
Only record the key
Write phrases, not full words that you need
sentences. to get the idea of the
point made.

Skip words like “the”

Retain key technical
and “a” that don’t add
or discipline-specific
additional meaning to
terms.
the lecture content.
NOTE-TAKING TECHNIQUES

Structure your notes with headings, subheadings and numbered lists.

Use headings to indicate topic areas or to include bibliographic

details of the sources of information.

Use outline form and/ or a numbering system and indenting to help

you distinguish major from minor points and as a clear way of
indicating the structure of lecture information.
 What if don’t understand?

continue to take notes. Things may

be clearer as the speaker goes on.
NOTE-TAKING
TECHNIQUES
write key words, skip a few spaces,
and get the information later

leave a space on the page for your

own notes and comments
 Re-engaging with notes?
Try “chunking” similar pieces of information into
categories that you can remember more easily.

Transcribe key concepts in your own words.

NOTE-TAKING
TECHNIQUES Add your own questions to the notes to help you recall
the key ideas.

Write a brief overall summary of the notes.

Reflect on the learning process itself—what do you find

confusing? How did you solve problems or clarify your
understanding?
 SYMBOLS & ABBREVIATIONS
Examples:
LG = ladies and gentlemen; F = Friends ; Cl = colleagues;
Pre = president ; Ch = chairman ; Cw = chairwoman ; C = country;
Cs = countries ; intl = international ; pol=political ; Ec = economic;
I = import ; X = export ; In = investment
a smiling face J = I’m delighted/honored to be here or it is my
pleasure/honor to be here
• arrows to say rise/go up/increase/ or go down/decrease
• use brackets to remind you of something (a joke/or sth said but not
important)
• emphasize by underlying: impt = very important
• use x before noun to signal a negative adj ; v before a noun to signal a
positive adj
• leave a margin to HIGHLIGHT certain things or LINKS
 SYMBOLS & ABBREVIATIONS
1. Common etc (etcetera) = and the rest para = paragraph
eg = for example ch = chapter
info = information no = number
ie = that is diff = different
nb =note well, important C19 = nineteenth century
p = page (pp = pages)

2. Discipline-Specific These should be whatever is frequently used in your

particular field of study.
In chemistry: Au for gold, Mg for magnesium
In the case of quantities and concepts: A or 𝜶 (alpha) B or 𝜷
(beta)
 SYMBOLS & ABBREVIATIONS
3. Personal Develop your own set so that you don’t have to write every word in
full. You can shorten any word that is commonly used.
Gov = government ; Bt = but ; Nt = nevertheless ; M+ = moreover ;
nec = necessary ; Al = although ; n.o = not only ; b.a = but also
Work out a system you’ll remember and use it consistently.
Introduce a few symbols and abbreviations at a time to help you
remember them.
4.Acronyms Some abbreviations are so well known and widely used that they have
become acronyms—abbreviations pronounced as words.
Laser = Light Amplification by Stimulation Emission of Radiation
ABC = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
SYMBOLS & ABBREVIATIONS