Week 4 – Discussion Board 2

[Art Liebl]

From the video, what are the techniques to good mental retention? Comment on the presentation you watched at Vimeo.com and what you thought about the ideas presented. Respond to two fellow students by Monday.

[Isnelda Mancia]

What are the best techniques for good mental retention?
The best technique is to focus and pay attention to the entire scene,listen to the patient,and associate each detail with what you already know.
Another excellent technique is to avoid focusing solely on individual words; instead,employ mental visualization to facilitate easier recall_a method more effective than relying on words alone.This involves associating an unfamiliar word with one that we already know in order to aid memorization.We can also utilize the ” backwards drill” technique; while it is imposible to memorize an entire conversation or long sentence starting from the beginning,we can utilize this technique effectively without compromising the integrity of the message.

What did I think about the ideas presented?
I think they are great,and they are techniques that we will use when we start working as Medical Interpreters.Now i have an idea of what it will be like,i would be prepared.

[Leidy Granados]

I agree with Isnaelda. The power of associating new words with words we already know is truly amazing, and it makes remembering information much easier and more effective.

[Musharraf Bayramova]

Now we have got 6 weeks to drill them 🙂

[Leidy Granados]

The video presents several practical techniques that can significantly improve mental retention. One of the most important ideas is visualization and association. Instead of trying to remember words in isolation, it is more effective to create vivid mental images. When a word is connected to a strong or exciting image, the brain is more likely to retain it. This method engages creativity and makes learning more memorable.
Another useful technique is organizing information in chronological order. Remembering events step by step helps the brain follow a logical sequence, making it easier to recall details later.
The video also emphasizes the importance of training the brain to focus more on visual input rather than only auditory input. Since the brain processes images more effectively than sounds, visual learning can strengthen memory.
Association techniques are also very helpful. These include:
•Using acronyms to simplify complex information
•Connecting words with similar sounds
•Using a reverse method, such as reading words backward, to reinforce memory
In addition, note-taking with symbols rather than full words can improve retention. Symbols are quicker to write and easier to remember, especially during fast-paced situations like interpreting.
Another key strategy is idea mapping. This technique allows learners to see the “big picture” rather than thinking in a strictly linear way. It helps organize information visually and shows how ideas are connected.
For vocabulary learning, the video suggests several techniques:
•Repeating a word multiple times (around 21 times) to store it in long-term memory
•Using visual imagery to reinforce meaning
•Reading words backward to deepen familiarity
•Using flashcards and pairing methods to practice actively
•Engaging physical actions or stimuli, which can strengthen memory connections
Finally, the video highlights the importance of lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise. Activities like walking or running are beneficial for the brain, especially for the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory. On the other hand, excessive sugar intake can negatively affect brain function and may interfere with important processes like the production of glutamic acid.

Personal Reflection on the Ideas
The ideas presented in the video are practical and easy to apply, especially for students and professionals, such as interpreters, who rely heavily on memory. I think the focus on visualization and association is particularly powerful because it transforms abstract information into something more concrete and memorable. On a personal level, I have used association techniques when studying in the past, and they have greatly helped me memorize new topics and words.

[Musharraf Bayramova]

I have never used association. I have heard times and times before that it is a powerful learning tool but never tried to figure out the mechanics and apply. Do you remember one of the topics you learned in the past with association? What was it and what were your associations?

[Isnelda Mancia]

It really helps a lot to look at images when trying to interpret things, as there are many words whose meanings we don’t know. I’ve watched movies about doctors where they talk extensively about body parts,symptoms,and procedures. I think that is a great way to learn-because it allows us to remember and associate certain words with others.

[Musharraf Bayramova]

When trying to use techniques aimed at improving retention, one can feel the weight of the activated area of the brain, similar to the weight of one’s own body during pull-ups. this are seems to have a kind of weight, and it is difficult to engage it without prior training. I assume that time and perseverant application of these techniques will strengthen the hippocampus, and the techniques themselves will become easier, just as regular pullups strengthen the muscles of the back and shoulders and make the pullups themselves easier over time.

I plan to use these techniques from presentation when I study material from the subsequent chapters of our program. I believe they will be effective. But the idea of using them during an actual encounter remains uncertain.

I can see the effectiveness of idea mapping when analyzing materials at home. But i do not see how radial note-taking would be possible during an actual medical encounter. We do not bring a whiteboard or large sheets of paper to a session. We bring a small stenopad. The pages of stenopad have a vertical line down the middle that visually divides the pages into left and right sections. According to Virginia Valencia’s note-taking guide, I begin writing at the far left marging on the left side of the page, moving vertically and diagnally. When i reach the end of the left section, i continue on the right side of the page. Once there is no more space on the right side, I flip the page and repeat the same pattern.

In real time encounter it is impossible to predict how much will be said. It seems to me that during an encounter it is more effective to use a vertical-diagonal note-taking technique because first, it clearly shows the hierarchy of ides, and second it allows for smooth transitions from one page to another in sync with the flow of communication. There is a sense of openness in this approach, I cannot imagine how I could move from one page to another when using an idea mapping technique that centers one idea in the middle of the page and branches out in all directions.

I am open to new experiences and would like to explore how the idea mapping works in the circumstance of the real time encounter. It would be helpful if someone could show me stenopad notes using this techniques during a 20-minute mock session. at this point, it is difficult for me to imagine how this technique is applied in consecutive interpreting session. or whether it might offer new possibilities for me.

I suppose I could set up such a mock session myself and experiment taking notes using idea mapping technique but does anyone know where I could find 20-min audio materials that mock the provider-patient conversation?

I can see how effective is visualization, but for now, it seems more applicable as preparation for a real encounter rather than something used during the encounter itself. I also found the technique of backward drill particularly interesting, especially the wat of restructuring the order of entire phrases while preserving the meaning. I do not think it is easy to develop the habit of starting an interpretation from the end and then completing it with the begining, but once mastered it can become a powerfull tool in executing interpretation.

[Musharraf Bayramova]

I sat down today to note audio recording and use the idea mapping as a note-taking technique. First, I used verticality and shifting. Then played the same recording again and used idea mapping. I had to hold the steno pad horizontally, instead of vertically. Started in the middle of the page. Omitted fluffs and expository questions, as was covered in the presentation. I could easily turn the page when I used up space on the right side of the page and on the next page I started again in the middle. I sensed creativity and ease in retaining information and used verticality and shifting within branches as needed. It appeared to me that idea mapping is potentially more powerful than verticality and it almost feels like a magic wand in both analyzing materials and consecutive interpreting. I am excited for new insights that are yet to come!

[Isnelda Mancia]

I watched the video and read Chapter 4,
I also read what you wrote and i believe that all these ideas will help us in the future as interpreters.

[Author]

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