How to Use the Method of Loci in Your OET Training

Mnemonic devices are crafted to help your brain recall and encode essential information using various familiar tools such as images, locations, words and other ideas. For nurses and other medical practitioners who are preparing for their OET review, it is essential to have a mnemonic device as it can help boost their memorization skills. For instance, one of the most effective and oldest mnemonic devices is the method of loci.

What is the method of loci?

The method of loci is an ancient mnemonic device that requires your visualization skills and can improve your memorization skills. To use this mnemonic device, simply visualize familiar locations such as your house or your school or work and put specific memory triggers that are associated with the contents and ideas that you want to remember. Moreover, the effectiveness of the method of loci relies on how well you visualize images with the new information. Thus, the more vivid your imagination is, the more efficient this mnemonic device. 

Aside from that, the method of loci can be used to memorize lists of items, essential key points in a speech, names of people, scripts and even a thought that you want to keep in mind. If you are interested in applying this mnemonic device to your OET training, read on and check out how it works: 
For example, here’s a list of fruit items that you need to remember:

• Apples
• Oranges
• Bananas
• Grapes
• Peaches

To memorize these fruit items using the method of loci, follow these four easy steps:

1. Think of a place you know well
Your house is the best place that you can use to work on this method. As you visualize your house, make sure that you imagine every corner and area of it.

2. Visualize a series of locations in that place in a logical order.
Depending on the number of items that you need to recall, recall locations in your house in a logical order. Start at the front door, living room, kitchen area, dining room and then your bedroom. 

3. Place each item that you want to remember in each location.
After identifying the locations, associate the fruit items in each part of your house.

• Apples = Front door
• Oranges = Living room
• Bananas = Kitchen area
• Grapes = Dining room
• Peaches = Bedroom 

4. Imagine going to each location to recall the information.
Now that everything is set, imagine that you are at the front door and you see an apple (or the color of the door is red, it depends on how you interpret each fruit item). As you step into the living room, you see an orange at the table. Then you proceed to the kitchen area and see your mother eating a banana. You sit at the dining table in front of the grapes and finally, you go to your bedroom and sit on your bed that is shaped like a peach. 

So what are you waiting for? Apply the method of loci to your OET training and boost your OET preparations today!

REFERENCES:
McKay A. “Definition of the Method of Loci.” Study.com. Accessed April 06, 2018. https://study.com/academy/popular/structure-of-the-oet-writing-section.html.

"Memory and Mnemonic Devices." Psych Central. July 17, 2016. Accessed April 06, 2018. https://psychcentral.com/lib/memory-and-mnemonic-devices/.

Mohs, Richard C. "How to Improve Your Memory." HowStuffWorks. May 17, 2007. Accessed April 06, 2018. https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/how-to-improve-your-memory7.htm.


Socrates. “How to Improve your Memory with the Method of Loci." Mind Expanding Techniques. July 10, 2011. Accessed April 06, 2018. https://www.mind-expanding-techniques.net/method-of-loci.html

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