How to learn vocabulary

What to do: Level 1 (lowest level of sophistication)

Terminology

1 Write down 10 words = 1 exercise
in the standard layout for DYLL.

You observe the following:

1. Each item is numbered
2. The numbers stand apart in a column of their own.
3. The elements are written on top of one another.
4. Source language is above the target language, i.e. the student working from top to bottom translates from the source language into the target language.
5. The elements are written into alternate lines, i.e. there a a lot of blank space.

2 Take a piece of A5 paper and fold it in the middle to make it less transparent.

3 Try item 1, then item 2, ..., item 10

4 If 10 items in succession were correct, you have "mastered this exercise" - "initial learning" is complete (for this exercise). You can move on to the next exercise.

5 If fewer than 10 items were correct, return to item 1 and try all items again. Continue doing this until mastery is achieved. This is a strict and important rule. Do not stop until you have mastered ALL items.

6 Take all rules of DYLL very seriously. Do not be smart and alter the rules of DYLL in the slightest. If you do, there will be unforseen consequences not only for the item you missed out on.

How to do each item

'Trying' one item

1 Cover the whole answer with a folded piece of scrap paper.
(click here for 'size of paper')

2 Slide the paper down until Question 1, but not its Answer, becomes visible.

3 Write down the number of the item, followed by the answer as best you can - calmly, clearly and promptly. (click for more instructions)

4 Slide the paper down to reveal the model answer.

5 Compare your answer with the model answer.

6 If your answer is correct, proceed to the next item.

7 If your answer is incorrect,

- draw a circle round the number of this item on your paper

- cross out the mistake and write the correct answer (click here for details)

- Now proceed to the next item.

8 Try one item after another until you have reached the end of the exercise.

9 If you have given ten correct answers in succession (items 1 to 10 correct), this exercise is deemed to have been 'done' or 'learnt', and you can stop. ('Stop' means that you may proceed to another exercise or do something altogether different.)

10 If you have made a mistake (one item wrong) in the exercise,

- fold your scrap paper back so that you cannot see your previous answers,

- cover the top of the page with it

- slide it down to item 1, and

- continue to 'do the exercise' from 1 to 10, as instructed.

11 Continue working through the exercise from 1 to 10 until you can write all ten items without the smalled mistake, i.e. until your success rate is 100%, which predicts a retention time of 90% for one hour.

12 If you stop working on the exercise before you have achieved the success rate of 100%, you are in breach of DYLL instructions and the DYLL guarantee becomes invalid.

13 Set up a revision diary, and note the time for the next revision, namely exactly one hour after 'finishing' the current exercise.

Why we do it like this

Why it works better than popular alternatives

Psychological background of what is happening