Why Graduated Interval Recall Is the Key to Mastering a New Language

Learning a language involves acquiring new words, discovering a new way to speak (accent, pronunciation, rhythm), and eventually becoming a conversational speaker.

One of the most important parts of that process involves your memory. In other words, it’s great to learn new words or phrases. But not forgetting them is the tricky part. So, how do you take new foreign language inputs, process them, and then cement them into your long-term memory?

That’s where spaced repetition for language learning comes into play. One of the foundational elements of the Pimsleur Method™, spaced repetition for languages helps novice learners not only acquire brand-new language learning elements, but also structures learning so that those new acquisitions aren’t forgotten.

What is the spaced repetition language learning technique, and how can it boost your language learning goals?

What Is Spaced Repetition in Language Learning?

Spaced repetition in language learning is simply the regular, regimented review of information—words, phrases, sentence structure, register. It’s essentially a type of learning cycle:

Exposure to new information
Immediate application (in conversation, exercises, activities)
Time away from the new concept (space)
Later, practice that requires the learner to reach into their memory and retrieve that new concept (repetition)

Pimsleur^® uses a type of spaced repetition called graduated interval recall. Graduated interval recall is a specific type of spaced repetition. Graduated recall for language learning utilizes increasingly longer time intervals for language review. With this method, once you learn a new phrase, you’ll revisit it for review a minute later. Each subsequent review occurs at a greater interval—for example, 5 minutes, 15 minutes. Your lessons will continue to expose you to new information and ask you to retrieve things you’ve already learned a day later, a few days later, even a few weeks later. The core audio lessons in the Pimsleur App incorporate this technique organically, so it doesn’t feel like you’re opening the text book and rereading the same information every time. Pimsleur employs graduated recall for language learning effectiveness because this kind of spaced repetition is shown to accelerate overall learning pace and ensure grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation transitions from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Why We Forget New Languages So Quickly

Let’s say you’re out at a restaurant. You notice a group of friends and go over to the table. You’re introduced to Kevin, one of your friend’s old college buddies. He’s in town because he’s thinking about moving to the area.

Fast-forward six months, and you see…that person (Keith? Kenneth?) at the store. You say hello, but can’t remember his name. He introduces himself as Kevin. Of course!

OK, why did you forget? You knew his name. The problem is, you didn’t see him for a long time. No regular contact, no follow-ups, no spaced repetition, or graduated recall.

That same scenario applies to why new languages are so quickly forgotten with many language learning programs. The initial lessons are fine; it’s the lack of graduated recall for language learning in the following days and weeks that’s the problem. Without regular reviews and intervals, the new information gets lost in the shuffle and eventually forgotten.

Let’s see how spaced repetition (specifically, graduated interval recall) helps prevent “amateur amnesia” while acquiring a new language.

The Science Behind Spaced Repetition Language Learning Effectiveness

There are plenty of ways to learn a new language. And some techniques are rooted in science, like graduated interval recall with Pimsleur. What does the science say about spaced repetition language acquisition? Here are a handful of ways spaced repetition, in particular graduated interval recall, ensures thorough, streamlined language learning, all while encouraging practical conversation skills.

Superior memory consolidation. To put new words and phrases in your core memory reserves, you have to essentially “hard wire” the brain to store away this information. And nothing does this quite like graduated interval recall; studies have shown that this form of learning actually strengthens the neural pathways that comprise the brain’s billion-fold electrical connections.
Concise cognitive processing. Acquiring a new language involves a ton of information. Graduated recall for languages ensures you’re not overwhelmed; you can focus on easier words and phrases at longer intervals, and concentrate on more difficult language elements at smaller intervals. This way, you’ll maximize your studies and avoid mental mistakes.
Prevents memory decay. Most newly-acquired information starts to disappear from memory within about two days. But with graduated interval recall, you’ll review and reinforce these new concepts before you’d normally forget. This is critical in transitioning short-term knowledge into long-term memory.
Improves the anticipation aspect of speech. Recalling a new word happens fast—and when you’re learning the right way, it happens really fast—quick enough to encourage natural conversation. The recall process involves recognition, retrieving the word from memory, and verifying it’s correct. When you learn a foreign language with Pimsleur, we combine graduated interval recall with something called the principle of anticipation. This concept involves processing a word or phrase and anticipating the right response. Graduated interval recall and the principle of anticipation work in tandem to further fine-tune your brain’s learning capability and memory retention.

Dr. Paul Pimsler’s revolutionary instructional techniques, which formed the Pimsleur Method, keep memory skills in full focus as you acquire a new language. As the doctor once said, “Probably no aspect of learning a foreign language is more important than memory. Yet no aspect of language learning has been less well examined.”

How the Pimsleur Method Uses Graduated Interval Recall to Maximize Retention

Speaking of quotes…Benjamin Franklin had many memorable sayings. There’s one that pertains to spaced repetition and graduated recall in language learning, especially with Pimsleur’s proven technique for bolstering memory: “Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.”

When you learn with Pimsleur, you’re an involved, active participant. Our scientifically-proven courses and lessons, which require robust participation and provide helpful, real-time feedback, are the pinnacle of the graduated recall system of language learning.Our online language programs include proven, applicable graduated interval recall to help you acquire any language quickly. See how much easier it is to learn a new language with Pimsleur (literally) in your pocket; our convenient app offers learn anytime, learn anywhere opportunities, and it only takes 30 minutes per day. Get started and sign up today!