ENHANCING MEMORY OF THE STUDENTS ENGLISH LANGUAGE VOCABULARY THROUGH MINDMAPPING Joesasono Oediarti S.

Endah Yulia Rahayu Wahju Bandjarjani Indahr_99@yahoo.com

Universitas PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya

Introduction
Vocabulary is a core component of language proficiency and provides much of the basis for how well learners speak, listen, read and write. Without an extensive vocabulary and strategies for acquiring new vocabulary, learners often achieve less than their potential and may be discouraged from making use of language learning opportunities around them such as listening to the radio, listening to native speakers, using the language in different contexts, reading, or watching television. Many language experts try to clarify the level of vocabulary learning learners need to achieve n order to read both simplified and unsimplified materials and to process different kinds of oral and written texts, as well as the kinds of strategies learners use in understanding, using, and remembering words.

A. What is Mind Map?

One of the most frequent questions received during my time teaching English would have been, How can I improve my memory for new English words? With one of the commonly heard ailments being expressed, I always seem to forget words that I have learnt. According to Buzan our brain and its capacity is virtually limitless allowing us to remember all sorts of things. What is important is the ability to make connections, to make memory bridges, from past known knowledge to presently being learnt knowledge. Buzan uses the metaphor of a jungle to describe the brain and the cutting of plants to make a walking path to describe something that is learnt successfully. Our memory is like this path, with the more we use information the better cleared the path and the less likely it will be forgotten. Whereas like in the jungle, if you dont cut the trees often enough the path gets lost amid the trees, so with our memory it needs to be constantly used. For language learning he states our ability to make connections to join one jungle path to the next is the key to its improvement. He has adopted what he calls mind maps to assist word on and on until the picture resembles something like a red eye that has lots of other lines coming out from the center.

Tony Buzan defines mind maps as follows: A mind map is a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlock the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills word, image, number, logic, rhythm, color, and spatial awareness in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing , it gives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain. The mind map can be applied to every aspect of life where improved learning and clearer thinking will enhance human performance. In addition to the key words, a good mind map makes use of color and images to help stimulate the brain and facilitate fast recall. Mind maps are extremely useful for 3 main purposes in language learning: 1. 2. Learning vocabulary Building a clear context before, during and after study sessions, classes or conversations with a tutor 3. Organizing ones thoughts before writing

When listening to or reading an article, you can make mind map that includes previously unknown vocabulary. Put the title of the article in the center of the map, then fan the words around the center. You can then add one-word definitions, synonyms, antonyms, parts of speech, translation, drawings, etc. depending on your learning preferences. And perhaps the most powerful used of mind maps is organizing your thoughts and manipulate your ideas before speaking and writing something. Creating mind maps or mind mapping is using a paper and pencil to draw out maps connections between two or more ideas. You can use mind maps to learn

a language with grammatical ideas, vocabulary and even conversational ideas such as question and answer. Mind maps look like neurons and dendrites or trees. This is not by coincidence. It is a refection how natural structure create connection, including your memory. Each person draws a mind map in a different way. Some are clean and orderly others to seem to be pure chaos. It does not matter. Your style of mind mapping is your style. You can use colors, pictures, or whatever you want to make your mind map beautiful or fun. I noticed once I started using mind maps in my language classes ability to retell a lesson, using the just learnt vocabulary, was certainly enhanced. In particular the learning was more organic and exploratory. Likewise when it came to reviewing the previous lesson, by incorporating the mind map, students were able to recall and build and reach back into their memory much more effectively than if I was just to give them a word test numbered from one to ten.

B. Why Mind Mapping Works?

I do not believe there are any magic pills to learn a language, except maybe with music; however, I think the act of mind mapping is what helps you learn a language. Creating drawing and planning your mind map is a fun break from learning a word list. Physically drawing the words and thinking about it is why mind mapping works. Maybe there are other reasons and I believe every-way

is a good way to learn a language and there are no great secrets other than putting the time in. However, if you enjoy what you are doing than the time you spend will seem like play or no time at all. Further there are efficient ways to learn a language and inefficient ways to learn a language. I think mind mapping is one of the more efficient ways to learn a langage. When I ask my pupils Why do you use a dictionary? They usually answer my question as follows: We use a dictionary: 1. 2. 3. 4. to learn the meanings of unfamiliar words to find the correct spelling to find the pronunciation to know the part of speech The above answer will be different if the pupils answer the question by using mind mapping. There will be various kinds of answers from the pupils if they use mind mapping. One day, when I taught vocabulary to my pupils I asked them Why do you use a dictionary? There were three pupils came in front of the class and they draw their mind maps on the white board as follows:

Student A

Spelling Using Dictionary Pronunciation

Meaning

Parts of speech

Student B
Phonetic Script N V Adj Adv Pronunciation Meaning

Parts of speech

Spelling Using Dictionary Connection Between words Antonym Synonym Word formation affix

Conjunction Preposition

Student C

Connotative

Denotative Adj

Adv. of Frequency Adv. of Manner

Phonetic Script Pronunciation Spelling

Adv. of Place Meaning Adv. of Time Adv Countable Nouns

Word Formation Antonym Synonym Preffix Suffix Inflectional Affixes Derivational Affixes Compounds Affix Connection between words

N Uncountable Nouns

USING DICTIONARY

Parts of Speech

Transitive V V Intransitive V Conjunction

Preposition

Conclusion
It is true that pupils can enhance their memory of English language vocabulary through mind mapping. As teachers we will be surprised to see how wonderful our pupils create their drawing and planning their mind map. The combination of the pictures and spatial orientation, aligned with the words will help reinforce it in our memory and increase your opportunities of recalling the vocabulary.

References
Buzan, Tony. 2007. Buku Pintar Mind Map Gramedia: Pustaka Utama. untuk Anak. Indonesia: PT.

Buzan Tony. 2009. Buku Pintar Mind Map. Indonesia: PT. Gramedia: Pustaka Utama. http://www/chinadaily.com.cn/language_tips/columnist/content_6503426.htm. http://www.michaelonmindmapping.com/blog/mind-maps/mind-mapping-forlanguages/. http://pkab.wordpress.com/belajar-bahasa-dengan=peta-konsep/ http://12mastery.com/learning-tools/mind-maps/mind-mapping-for-languages/ Richards, Jack C and Renandya, Willy A. 2002. Methodology in Language Teaching. London: Cambridge University Press.