[etni] Teaching ABC by Visual Mnemonis

From: Laurin Lewis <lewisl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:26:09 +0200
Dear Hagit and all

Kol hakavod for doing the research into the 
inspiration for our method of teaching the 
ABC.  Yes, it was a study involving the teaching 
of the Cyrillic (Russian) alphabet to English 
speaking students. Details follow.

"The Use of Mnemonic Strategies in the Learning of Non Roman Foreign
Language Alphabets. (EJ526144(
Author(s): Gruneberg, Michael; Sykes, Robert
Source: Language Learning Journal, n13 p82-83 Mar 1996

Abstract:
Examines whether mnemonic strategies can be successfully applied to the
learning of a non-Roman foreign-language alphabet. Students were given
materials presenting Russian letters and their English sounds on each page.
Beneath each letter was a mnemonic. Findings indicate that these strategies
enhance the learning speed of non-Roman foreign-language alphabets.

The author, Professor Michael Gruenberg, a 
pioneer in language teaching, became my informal 
mentor during the writing of my M.A. 
dissertation, ?The Art of Memory in the Service 
of Foreign Language Vocabulary 
Learning?.  Professor Gruenberg has a Facebook 
page for those wanting more information about Visual Mnemonics. It's

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Memory-Method-Languages/152401434816120?v=infoI

You can also see a very brief explanation on a page on my web site

http://www.h2e.co.il/info-for-teachers/the-keyword-method

Hagit, you say that you "found no sense or logic 
in the mnemonics that you use there too, and it 
contradicted the new ministry curriculum that we 
need to teach according to, and EFL teaching practice theories that I know."

Well, for the logic in the method, please consult 
the sources above. But, briefly, we teach 
vocabulary by finding words in Hebrew that sound 
like the English words. Then we suggest a visual 
image that connects the Hebrew word (the 
"keyword") with the meaning of the English word. 
So for example, to teach the English word "dog" 
we notice that it sounds like ?dag?, and then we 
suggest an image of, say, a  giant fish 
swallowing a dog. Granted, it sounds weird. But 
there is an extensive bibliography of research 
showing that this method works and produces dramatic results.

You say that it contradicts the ministry 
curriculum. I would really like to know just 
where that contradiction is inscribed. I suspect 
that visual mnemonics is simply ?off the chart? ? 
that is, not anticipated or dealt with in the 
curriculum, like many other alternative strategies.

So, yes, I got the idea that the English alphabet 
could be taught by visual mnemonics. I and my 
team at the Self-Access English Learning Center 
searched and found Hebrew words that sounded like 
the names of the English letters. It was not so 
easy! We thought of images connecting the Hebrew 
words to the shapes of the letters. Then we asked 
Pepe Feinberg, a brilliant artist whom some of 
you may know from the Jerusalem Post, to draw 
cartoons to express the connection. So, for 
example, the letter H (a hard one for Israeli 
kids to remember) sounds like aish. So Pepe drew 
a fire in the shape of the letter H. The image 
sticks in the learner?s memory and recalls the name of the letter.

OK, ?nuff  said. I?ll just remind all of you that 
this program is currently free for 
English  teachers and schools. Just download the 
free trial version from 
<http://www.english4students.com/>www.english4students.com. 
Make sure that it?s working OK on your PC.  Then 
request your unlock code from me at 
<mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
The code converts the trial version to a full version.

No strings attached. It?s a Gift.

Laurin
[etni] Teaching ABC by Visual Mnemonis

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