The Problem with Learning Verbs in Isolation
Many language learners focus heavily on memorizing verb conjugations. At first, this approach may seem effective because the number of verbs is still relatively small. When you have only learned a few verbs, it is easy to recall their forms and feel as though you are making rapid progress. However, as the number of verbs increases, a different problem begins to emerge. Similar verb forms start competing with one another in memory. A learner who has memorized dozens or hundreds of conjugation patterns may find it increasingly difficult to recall the correct form at the right moment. Cognitive psychologists refer to this phenomenon as interference. When multiple pieces of similar information are stored in memory, they can interfere with one another, making retrieval slower and less accurate. In addition, isolated memorization creates relatively weak memory traces. If a learner memorizes a verb and its conjugations without regularly using them in meaningful situations, those memories are ...
