reading and retaining information

[赫杰]

hello all!

I think I have a problem with remembering information that I come across. I can remember concepts quite well and for a long time(once I grasp them), such as IT concepts and process functions, and the same goes for expressions in the Chinese language. I also can remember things just for tests pretty good. I just can't remember miscellaneous information very well, for instance:

During class, after reading a passage, the teacher will ask something about the text, and I just can't remember where the corresponding information is...even though I just read it! The same of course goes for when listening to passages and asked questions on it. Some people have said this is from not being familiar enough with the language, but I often encounter the same problem in english...so I am 99% this is not a language problem. So annoying...I really envy those classmates that seem to have the text memorized on the first reading...

Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Songyi]

When you read a passage, maybe repeating to yourself the key pieces of information as you come across them. It'll help reinforce what you read. I think what's happening is that you're so focused on processing the currently incoming information that you forget to "store" the previous stuff before going on.

Just a thought...

[pandaxiongmao]

It seems like you are passively reading - you are focused on the process of reading rather than the content of what is being read.

As the previous poster said, ask yourself some technical questions regarding the passage as you read, and try to think of answers. It should help you remember. Also try to reword the ideas, since you would then be putting the passage into your own words.

[gato]

During class, after reading a passage, the teacher will ask something about the text, and I just can't remember where the corresponding information is...even though I just read it! The same of course goes for when listening to passages and asked questions on it. I often encounter the same problem in english...

What others have said. Be a skeptical reader/listener. Ask yourself "Is what this person is saying true? Does it make sense? How does it compare with my own experience or what I know from before?" That forces you to become a more active reader and listener, and you'll remember more.

[imron]

Another thing that helps is to try and create a vivid image in your head of what you are reading. Don't just read the words, try to paint a picture in your mind of what is happening. The more detail you imagine, the easier it will be to remember it.

[character]

During class, after reading a passage, the teacher will ask something about the text, and I just can't remember where the corresponding information is...even though I just read it! The same of course goes for when listening to passages and asked questions on it. Some people have said this is from not being familiar enough with the language, but I often encounter the same problem in english...so I am 99% this is not a language problem. So annoying...I really envy those classmates that seem to have the text memorized on the first reading...

Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?

It sounds like you may have trouble staying focused. Try increasing the amount of sleep and exercise you're getting and see if it makes a difference. Of course exercising is a great time to listen to Chinese learning material.

It's also worth having read ahead (if possible) so you've already seen the material being covered in class.

If you've not memorized the common words, phrases, and sentence patterns from earlier lessons, now is a good time to do so. This lets you concentrate on the new material.

[chenpv]

It sounds like you may have trouble staying focused.

Well I am afraid I have to differ that in this case passive reading results from inability to stay focused, inasmuch as a true absent-minded person, IMHO, would not have cared too much about his absent-mindedness, let alone come here asking for help.

Quite contrary to the post above, I guess over-emphasis on language itself may distract the reader from getting the gist of an article. This is especially true for some language learners, since they might subconsciously divert their attentions from trying to understand the material to more trivial problems such as meanings of certain expressions, verbal choices and linkage between subordinate clauses etc. It is not because they don't know how to distill an article or lack of the familiarity of a language, when they are just asked to find the essence of a passage. But it is possibly due to a subliminal misuse of learning patterns that are applied to thorough learning only, provided they learn that language mainly with this method.

So apart from those useful advice offered by others, I want to add my two cents that taking notes during listening or making marks during reading is good way to start with. It helps you ignore ( temporarily maybe ) those insignificant bumps and keep you sticked to the flow of ideas. Even if you, just suppose the most most terrible situation, didn't have a single syllable left in your mind after you had finished the reading, it is still possible for you to go over all the notes or marks you had made in a minimal period of time, and thus get the main idea of the passage. Additionally, you may want to try some quick reading as a more challenging game. Pick up some short passages concerning whatever topics in whatever language and read as fast as you can. One way only, no rereading allowed. Once you finished the article, say out aloud or jot down anything left in your mind about the article, not necessarily in Chinese solely. Just don't make language a holy sacred hurdle of your thoughts, despise it, abuse it, and you will find it come as natural as your thoughts are flowing out.

[gato]

Hey, chenpv. I see some dramatic improvements in your English in the last year.

[赫杰]

Hey, chenpv. I see some dramatic improvements in your English in the last year.

Yikes, you can say that again...dude's english 本来就很强, now it just makes me 感到汗颜...crazy mad language skills that guy

Okay, thanks everyone so much for the responses! I have been trying to use a summarizing technique, which is something that I kind of do when studying IT concepts and processes. For instance, every time I read a paragraph, page, chapter or some kind of similar set interval, I will try to use as few words as possible to summarize what I have read. The only problem with this is that it causes the reading process to be so slow, as I am looking to really absorb the info and not just scan through it. So in class, I am always like only half-way done with the article when the teacher calls time...but I guess I don't really care too much about this, ha-ha. ^0^

[chenpv]

:oops: :oops: :oops: Thank you guys... but... as a matter of fact... my English still...well...thanks again.

[赫杰]

Just a quick follow up for anyone else who is having this problem. After playing around with some techniques while reading, I think I have found one that works for me and have been satisfied with the results, now I am working on making this a more natural process. I remember things best first by finding what I think is the main idea trying to be conveyed in a small part of an article, which is usually only a few words, and giving it like only one or two attributes, and then summarize or write down what I read at a pre-determined point, like a paragraph or page or something like that. I found that, for me, by just remembering (what I think is) the main idea of the passage, it helps me with summarizing things more completely. I then repeat the previously summarized things at each interval, along with the new idea and attributes, and then finally, do a complete summary at the end of the entire article itself, so it all kind of just builds on itself.

I think what is important is to realize your natural way of remembering things, make the most of it, and try not to remember more than you are capable of. For instance, I tried like a commenting technique to get me more involved with the text, meaning like after every sentence make a comment or extend its meaning, something like that, kind of like how you do when talking to someone, which will force you to be more involved with the conversation, but now I think that deals more with reaction and not memorization, so by using this technique, not only did it cause my reading experience to be twice as long, it actually diverted my attention from the main idea, so for me, trying to remember too much was actually 适得其反

Just some thoughts

HJ

[raincoat]

I think I used to have same problem as well but I quess it's due to another thing the teacher required us to do, reading the passage out loud. There was time when he/she asked you to read and then you concentrate on the way every single word should be read - the pinyin & the tone, not to forget that for every two 3rd tone words in sequence you should change the first one to the 2nd tone and also to change the 4th tone of 不 to the 2nd tone whenever the word next to it is the 4th tone word. That alone can distract you from grasping the whole meaning of a sentence, let alone a passage