 "Get The Best Grades With the Least Amount of Effort" contains a step-by-step formula to help you squeeze the most out of each and every day and shape your destiny for success while enjoying every minute of it. It's a proven system to save you from drowning in never-ending To Do lists, or getting swamped by feelings of overwhelm or overload – especially as a mature adult student who has been ‘out of school’ for a ‘few’ years. 
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  What would it be like if you never forgot something important again? There are basically two types of memory acquisition. One is by repetition, which is a rather commonly used method. The second is by association, where we remember new information by linking it to what we already know. Our memory for words can be modeled as a network in which each point represents a different word, with each linked to words that relate to it. Psychologist Tom Griffiths and his colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, wondered whether the ease with which the brain retrieves words is similar to the way that websites are ranked by Google: by the number of sites that link to them. The test results suggested that human memory could be improved by examining the tricks that search engines employ, and vice versa, says Griffiths. (Psychological Science, vol 18, p 1069). Thus, memory is the web of knowledge residing in one's head. To memorize new words we must create more associations and pictures that help us remember. This is known as memory by association and this method is well presented by Tony Buzan in his Mind-mapping. We can create connections by using linkages, mental pictures, images, colors, sounds, emotions, and associations. We can use mind-mapping or create a story with new words and phrases. We can link new words to different phrases, pictures, stories and associations. By creating more associations it is easier for your brain to absorb the new information and it is easier for you to memorize these words and phrases. Mind map is extremely powerful thinking tool which reflects externally what is going on in your brain. Mind maps help you to learn thousands of words and phrases much more easily than traditional methods and this for two main reasons. Mind maps provide the structure for learning by grouping related concepts together. And this mirrors the way your brain stores the new information. Secondly, mind maps are visual and the research shows that the use of images and color helps you recall all information, especially languages. In The Most Important Graph in the World Tony Buzan reveals how even a simple understanding of memory and its improvement can instantly and dramatically change your life - helping you both remember and be remembered. You will discover the fundamental principles of memory and how you can use them to develop your creativity and intelligence, deliver presentations and speeches with real impact, resolve conflict, make your marketing resonate, raise your social and emotional IQ, maximise your time, and create a more meaningful, memorable life. Learn how to:
Online Courses To Avoid Adult Language Learners' Drop Out  Research results obtained from the survey covering 26 language schools who provide Estonian language courses for new immigrants in Estonia revealed that the drop-out rate reaches up to 30 percent of the participants. ImmiSoft Ltd together with the Integration Research Institute decided to develop a special Estonian language e-course and several other e-learning materials that would better cater to the needs of adult English-speaking newcomers in Estonia, eliminating the common drop-out reasons. Our experience from previous adaptation courses has revealed that new immigrants are in difficulty in finding suitable language courses that would correspond to their needs. Although the adaptation program for new immigrants in Estonia has been implemented since 2009, it has not solved the problem. Research results obtained from the survey covering 26 language schools who provide Estonian language courses for new immigrants in Estonia (conducted by Mart Rannut and Ulle Rannut in 2009) revealed that the drop-out rate reaches up to 30 percent of the participants. Main drop-out reasons (42%) affecting attendance concerned changes in employment: losing or finding a job, change of workplace or of work shifts, extensive business travel, etc. 8 percent of drop-out cases were caused by moving to another place and 5% due to family reasons. In the case of free language courses financial reasons for drop-out vanish, however, factors connected to low learning motivation become much more important (17% of drop-out cases), as participants regard the course requirements too high, the course too intensive and difficult. Ironically, language school managers were on the opinion that the drop-out might be even more extensive in this case, reaching a quarter from the total number of starters. Though the reasons (employment, family, etc.) for missing classes were allegedly the same for all courses, however, the motivation in catching up one’s co-learners among those attending free course was much lower than among those who had paid for it, resulting in drop-out.
E-courses enable to overcome constraints limiting newcomers' adaptation and integration in Estonia, make adaptation and language learning programs permanent and financially accessible. As e-courses are available in Internet, participants can visit each lesson whenever it is suitable for them and as many times as they need, thus, they cannot miss the class any more. They bring learning activities and personal tutoring to all participants 24/7 wherever they are, which eliminates most of the drop out reasons. Learners can decide what topics to choose and when is the best time to learn for them which should increase motivation. The other beneficial aspect is the affordable price as it makes the whole language learning process much cheaper for learners. Read more by visiting these websites! http://www.integrationresearch.net/immisoft-e-courses.html and http://www.integrationresearch.net/adaptation-course.html
Ulle Rannut, Ph.D Integration Research Institute
First, we can create connections by using mental pictures or images, for instance. The trick for constructing associations is to make these as concrete and tangible as possible. A striking image like a flower will always be easier to remember than random abstract information. Since when you're gradually building your new vocabulary for the new language you will inevitably translate and think those words out in your mother tongue, you can use such a mnemonic to make this translation easier to memorize. For example, if you've just learnt how to say "seaside" (rand) in Estonian, imagine a picture of the seaside and then switch back between the native and foreign language words of what you're seeing. The image, which is easier to remember than a word, will act as an intermediate between the two languages. All you need to do is make a picture for the word, a picture for the definition, then link them together. The point is to create a linkage from existing information to the new information. The shortcut to memorizing new information is to use what you already know and then create a “memory-placeholder” so you can retrieve the new information when you need. Instead of trying to translate phrases in a new language word by word and make sense of it, try to link these phrases to your own language, where you would need and how you would say these in your own language. It would also help when you're trying to remember these associations by adding emotions (how it makes you feel). If you have to remember for example the phrase „Kui teil on küsimusi, siis andke teada“ you can link it at first to your own language („If you have any questions, then don’t hesitate to ask!“), then you can link the Estonian words by making fun of them and add some emotions and pictures, for example, the word „küsimusi“ (questions) has also anothe meaning „Küsi musi!“ which means „Ask kisses!“ The main principle is that no matter what kind of image you create for the association, it must be exaggerated or strange. In fact, the stranger and odder the image is and the stronger emotions are linked to it, the easier and longer you'll remember it.
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 Ülle Rannut, PhD
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