Mind maps do help. Is it true? Maybe you have used it before for other things but PROBABLY not for language. It might produce different results to every person but they can be used to note whatever you want in a way that represents how things are stored in your mind. I would assume that you know some of the information and our FOCUS is on how to use them in effectively in language learning.

Learning your mother tongue is already hard so you could imagine how difficult it is to conquer another foreign language. It is scary and so complex. Firstly, you need to split all the complexities into easier chunks and subjects so your brain will not be overloaded.

Here are ideas for few different mind maps and their subjects.

1. Moving and physical activities

List out the entire basic everyday verb that you use in your daily life. In here you will place all the words that are somehow connected with move. You could draw some of the body parts and put colors to spark your interest and sight. Including moving objects, going under them, on top of them, asking where they are at the moment and why you need to go so far to get that delicious sushi.

2. Basic conversation.

Survival phrases do help especially when you intend to travel alone. Put up all the words that may be helpful in speaking with someone. Write down ‘ohayou’ and ‘konnichiwa’ drawing here and there in kanji and hiragana. Typical greetings, good wishes, saying how happy something made you and everything else that you can think of. After the basic, draw another mind map for a more complex one.

3. Grammar and pronunciation

This is really important. You can’t speak the language if you don’t know the grammar. List down all the words that you are unable to pronounce and put more of the romaji words a first if you find it easier to memorize. Say the words loudly

whenever you are at home but don’t do it in public. They might think that you are a wacko.

4. Words.

Even if grammar is important what you need the most to bring that language to a higher level is definitely a big fat vocabulary at your finger tips. You may want to create different mind maps for multiple word groups. Groups can contain related subjects and activities. Other than that, you could put in those that sound similar. For easier memorization, you could group it to be noun, verb, adjective and adverbs. Group it in between 50 to 100 words per mind map. You will be surprised how this could exponentially improve your learning.

Finally don’t forget to put your creativity hat in the mind map – colors, drawings, patterns and symbols.

Good luck!

To learn more on mind mapping you could visit – MindMappingTechniques