Enhance Your Second Language Learning with Personalized Illustration Notes

Problem Statement

I was very ambitious when I watched the first video from Super Easy French. Not only did I want to understand every single word, but I also pushed myself to memorize each sentence.

I believe I'm not the only person who has taken this approach during the early stages of learning a second language. The idea of "knowing every word, speaking every sentence without prompts, and retaining this passage in memory forever" brings a sense of thrill and motivation.

But I failed. Despite the video being only five minutes long, as an absolute beginner, it became a marathon for me to understand each word, memorize each sentence, and work on my pronunciation. My patience and passion began to wear thin. After one week, I had only memorized two minutes of content.

I changed my strategy after that attempt, and so far, I am very happy with what I have done. In brief, I started to make my own illustrations for chosen content from each video and reused them in future revisions.

I will give a thorough walkthrough of this approach in the section below and explain why it worked better for me.

The New Approach

First of all, look at the picture. Think about these two questions:

1. Can you guess what each image/sketch is trying to describe?
2. What kind of function do the red line and yellow highlights carry?

Quick Answers:

Let's take the little cartoon in the bottom right corner as an example. It describes a series of actions a man did with his umbrella. In the first image, he is holding the umbrella ("Je tiens un parapluie dans ma main"). Then, he throws away the umbrella ("Je jette le parapluie"). He gets the umbrella and opens it (“Puis, je vais chercher le parapluie et j'enlève le parapluie"). Finally, he says it is not necessary to open the umbrella, as it is not raining ("C’est inutile car il ne pleut pas").

The red lines and notes indicate the meaning of the marked area. The yellow highlights indicate new vocabulary for me.

How to Create This Kind of Illustration Note and How to Use It to Empower Learning

Here is exactly what I did: When I find a French video for learning, I watch it with English subtitles to understand the general meaning. Then, I pick some scenes that fit my current level and potential needs in life. I choose 2-5 short sentences from each scene and jot them down. Finally, I draw very simple cartoons next to each scene. I usually take a photo after I've done this. Whenever I need to take the metro or wait for someone, I look at the illustrations/cartoons and try to recall how to describe what is happening in French.

Why This Works Better

1. Organization: As mentioned in the example, it was a series of actions. The cohesive connection makes it easier for me to understand each action and retain the information.
2. Visual Prompts: The illustrations act as prompts. Instead of seeing the English sentence and translating it into French, an image provides more mental space for me to form sentences. For example, when I look at the first picture of the man holding the umbrella, I might recall the original sentence or create a variation like "Il tient le parapluie haut et il sourit."
3. Reduced Cognitive Load: For my brain, an image reduces the mental effort compared to words. Research supports the use of visuals in learning for reducing cognitive load and improving retention (Mayer, 2009).
4. Personal Relevance: I can choose content that fits my level and needs. According to Krashen's Input Hypothesis, i+1 (input just beyond the current level) is a powerful method in language acquisition (Krashen, 1985).
5. Enhanced Vocabulary Learning: Creating personal illustrations helps reinforce vocabulary retention. Nation (2001) highlights the importance of varied and meaningful exposure to vocabulary for effective learning.

Any Downfalls?

This can be a bit time-consuming. However, I am not aiming to make my drawings as pretty as professional comics. A man drawn with five strokes and one circle is perfect for me. A triangle and a square together make a house. That is also perfect for me.

What if the variations of sentences I make for each image contain errors? The quick answer is, say it first, then check it with AI. I am still a beginner and I trust AI can handle language assessment at my level.

Conclusion

Language learning is an interactive process. While you are not living in an environment where you are exposed to the target language, the best thing you can do is get involved in the process of creating ways to interact with the language. This method may not be for everyone, but if you're a beginner looking for a new approach, give illustration notes a try!

Have fun learning!

 

Krashen, S. D. (1985). The Input Hypothesis: Issues and Implications. Longman.

Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia Learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge University Press.