Understand the Idea

"Know 'why?' Before 'how?'..." 

-Tolu Alao

Believe me when I say, it’s invaluable knowing why? It gives you an edge over other learners who only know ‘how?’

Obviously, understanding the idea takes more time than just knowing how, but trust me it will last for the rest of your life.

The following sequence 3. 6. 9. 12. 15. 18. 21. does not have to be memorised. You merely need to remember the principle involved.

Remembering the principles involved is always more efficient than trying to remember the specifics. 

Chess masters can play blind-fold chess not because they recall each piece, (they don't), but because they retain the overall patterns involved. 

In a particularly interesting study, A.S. Reber in 1967 showed that relationships between words are often subconsciously recognised. He took two groups and gave each a list of nonsense words to learn.

One group had a list made up of words chosen at random - the other group had a list which was compiled according to a specific rule or principle - but that principle was not specified, it was merely understood.

The second group learned twice as well. The clear conclusion was that rules (and they include grammar) can be learnt from inference and example. 

When we understand the principle involved - when we say "Aha, I see now" we have given the subject meaning and a personal relevance. 

We have filed it in our own particular memory - library reference file.

We remember very poorly anything that is not meaningful to us, but we remember easily anything that has significance, and particularly emotional significance!

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