Why We Remember and Forget_General English C1
Why We
Remember
and Forget
Items in this lesson
Why We
Remember
and Forget
Warm up
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/03/24/upshot/memory-puzzle.html
Ask your partner
How do factors like stress, sleep, or emotions influence our ability to remember or forget?
How do you personally try to remember important information — do you use any techniques or strategies?
Can memories be trusted? To what extent is our memory accurate?
Do you think remembering every face you’ve seen would be a blessing or a curse? Why?
a blessing
a curse
Let’s watch!
Do you think remembering every face you’ve seen
would be a blessing or a curse? Why?
Look at the AI-generated illustrations below and guess which phrase each one illustrates.
Look at the AI-generated illustrations below and guess which phrase each one illustrates.
Look at the AI-generated illustrations below and guess which phrase each one illustrates.
5
minute
00
second
Vocabulary
PHEW!
Idioms I liked
Idioms won't use
Let's reflect
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
1. I’ve been trying to remember the answer all day, but nothing comes to me — I’ve been taking a trip down memory lane.
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
2. I completely forgot about our meeting — it must have gone in one ear and out the other.
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
3. The smell of fresh flowers racked my brain spring.
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
4. Her advice was so memorable — it’s a memory like a sieve!
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
5. That old photo etched in my memory about our childhood holidays.
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
6. I had to slip my mind to remember where I left my wallet.
The idioms in the sentences below are used incorrectly—replace them with the correct ones. Make changes if necessary.
7. I told him the instructions three times, but they seem to have been at the back of his mind.
Episodic memory
The act of remembering stored information
Memory of specific personal events
Storing information by linking it to the existing knowledge
General factual knowledge shared by people
Encoding
The act of remembering stored information
Memory of specific personal events
Storing information by linking it to the existing knowledge
General factual knowledge shared by people
Semantic memory
The act of remembering stored information
Memory of specific personal events
Storing information by linking it to the existing knowledge
General factual knowledge shared by people
Consolidation
The act of remembering stored information
The process of recording/registering information
Storing information by linking it to the existing knowledge
General factual knowledge shared by people
Retrieval
The act of remembering stored information
The process of recording/registering information
Storing information by linking it to the existing knowledge
General factual knowledge shared by people
Enter your question here
Episodic memory
the ability to recall details, e.g. the time and 1____ of past events
different to semantic memory – the ability to remember general information about the 2___, which does not involve recalling 3___ information
Forming episodic memories involves three steps:
Encoding
involves receiving and processing information
the more 4 ___ Given to an event, the more successfully it can be encoded
to remember a 5___ , it is useful to have a strategy for encoding such information
Consolidation
how memories are strengthened and stored
most effective when memories can be added to a 6___ of related information
the 7___ of retrieval affects the strength of memories
Retrieval
memory retrieval often depends on using a prompt, e.g. the 8___ of an object near to the place where you left your car
Episodic memory impairments
these affect people with a wide range of medical conditions
games which stimulate the 9___ have been found to help people with schizophrenia
children with autism may have difficulty forming episodic memories – possibly because their concept of the 10____ may be absent
memory training may help autistic children develop social skills
Why do we forget?
Are we to blame technology?
Video: why do we forget?
The memory debate challenge
Split into two teams: one team argues that technology is harming our memory, and the other argues that technology improves memory.
Each speaker gets 1 minute to present their argument using at least two idioms related to memory.
“Because we rely on smartphones, information often goes in one ear and out the other.”
“Without writing things down, you might draw a blank when you need key details.”
Exam Speaking
Start by saying it's etched in your memory because it was so vivid.
Mention that it feels like a trip down memory lane just thinking about it.
Example:
"The memory that immediately springs to mind is… It’s still etched in my memory even after all these years."
Be specific, then add how your memory worked back then.
Example:
"I must have been about seven — an age when you have a memory like a sieve for some things, but certain moments stick forever."
Narrate the event, using idioms to describe memory moments within it.
Example:
"I remember trying to… but my mind went blank — I completely lost my train of thought when…"
"My dad’s words ring a bell even now — he said…"
"For some reason, the smell of rain always jogs my memory of that day."
