Article published In: ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 85/86 (1989) ► pp.123–142
Utilization of the Hookword Method for the Learning of Polish Vocabulary
A Personal Investigation
Published online: 1 January 1989
https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.85-86.07kel
https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.85-86.07kel
The hookword method of learning foreign language vocabulary evolved by Paivio (1978) is far less widely known than the keyword method of Pressley and his associates and has been subject to very little experimentation. Furthermore, although intended as a rehearsal and learning technique to be used by any individual learner independently of a teacher and any material constraints, virtually no attempt has been made to implement it.
Originally developed for the learning of French vocabulary, the system was adapted by the author for use with Polish. Following a description of the method, it is shown how this adaptation was accomplished. A number of positive and neutral observations are listed which were recorded over the twelve-month period in which it was employed; drawbacks of the method are then described and discussed.
The overall experience was positive in so far as it gave insights into the potential of imagery as a memory and learning aid and in that it substantially augmented and reinforced the author's Polish lexis at no cost to any other activity.
References (12)
Asher, J.J. (1983). Learning a mother language through actions. Los Gatos, California: Sky Oaks Productions, Inc.
Atkinson, R.C. & Raugh, M.R. (1975). An application of the mnemonic keyword method to the acquisition of a Russian vocabulary. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 104, 2, 126–133.
Desrochers, A. (1982). Imagery elaboration and the recall of French articiencun pairs. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 36,4, 641–654.
Hammerly, H. (1984). Contextualized visual aids (filmstrips) as conveyors of sentence meaning. IRAL, XXII, 2, 87–94.
Higbee, K.L. (1977). Your memory: how it works and how to improve it. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Paivio, A. (1978). On exploring visual knowledge. In "Visual learning, thinking and communication". Eds. Randhawa, B.S. & Coffman, W.E. New York: Academic Press.
Paivio, A. & Desrochers, A. (1979). Effects of an imagery mnemonic on second language recall and comprehension. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 33,1,17–28.
(1981). Mnemonic techniqes in second-language learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 73, 6, 780–795.