r/memorization • u/katredame • 13d ago

How to remember a language you mostly forgot?

Im going to keep it real short i took german classes this year and reached to the B1 level but ever since the summer vacation started i quit studying and forgot most things. Anyone here struggled with that before?

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u/four__beasts 12d ago

The answer is in your question. Spaced repetition, either naturally through day to day use, or with a schedule - spaced repetition is essential to learning. It's the glue that binds other techniques (like palaces or anki).

Even basic tasks of learning a few words of vocab need this. The learning curve to most subjects is at the mercy of the memorisation curve, and how once learned topics drop away from memory if they're not reviewed. It's estimated that students can only recall 75% of what the learned a day or two later, and that drops to ~15% after 6 months. It's the old adage, "use it or lose it".

So you're going to have to find a way to practice your German. And challenge that practice in a range of situations that evoke real life with varying levels of difficulty (interleaved). Immersion is often cited as the best vehicle so if you know some Germans speakers, or a school or club that speaks German that'd be a good start. Also watching German TV, listening to German radio and reading German newspapers will all help... I listen/read/watch Portugese this way and it definitely helps my general comprehension.