Quick. Remember this number.

5846.

How long can you hold that in your head?

How about 343344244?

What if I told you those were just number sequences for the preceding words?

“Quick. (5) Remember (8) this (4) number (6).”

“How (3) long (4) can (3) you (3) hold (4) that (4) in (2) your (4) head (4)?”

I imagine you can now recall those numbers after 5 seconds.

The conclusion I am hinting at is this.

Humans aren’t very good at remembering meaningless information.

But string it together in meaningful ways? And the previously meaningless information becomes instantly recallable.

The parallel for language learning? Don’t try to memorize words.

Words have very little meaning alone.

Instead, experience meaningful input. Input that you enjoy.

Then, the meaningfulness of the words used will allow them to automatically slot themselves into your mind.

(This applies for all learning. Seek meaning. You will learn fastest that way.)