Can you recommend some techniques? I know the memory palace is one of the best methods, but could you give me some tips and tricks for encoding sentences effectively for verbatim memorization? or something else?
My preferred method: first letter method.
And a memory palace with one locus per line.
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So you combine the two?
like, you first memorize it with the letter method and then create a loci for it anyway? Does that work for long(ish) term retention of the text?
I use both at the same time. While I learn and recite I imagine walking through the memory palace.
Obviously first letters isn’t needed after a while, once you’ve learnt the text, but I still keep it in a “hint” field in anki (that way it’s hidden but if I’m stuck I can toggle it to see it).
But I can only encourage you to try things out and find what you prefer. Just because it’s what I do doesn’t mean that other people can’t use other combinations that work well for them.
The first letters help because when you are not able to recite the text yet (or anymore), it gives you enough of a hint to allow you to start, while still making your brain work enough so that you’ll learn (as opposed to just re-reading which doesn’t make you learn anything).
The memory palace helps because it keeps the lines in order, prevents you from skipping lines and tells you “what comes next” (it can give you a hint of the keywords or first words if you’re stuck - depending on how you encoded in it of course).
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