Having to memorize a text can be intimidating. You may think that you will never be able to memorize it without getting confused or that you will completely forget what you had to say. But fear not: if you can relax and adopt some common memorization methods, you'll be there in no time. If you want to know how to memorize a text, follow these simple steps.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Understanding the Material
Step 1. Read all the material
Before you start memorizing lines, you should read all of the text to firmly grasp the meaning of the work, speech or presentation. Make a commitment to read it in a quiet place and if necessary aloud.
If you really want to improve your memorization, read it more than once
Step 2. Reflect on the meaning
After reading it you can reflect on its real meaning. Instead of just memorizing it, you should understand both the meaning and purpose of the text, whether it's to motivate employees during a presentation or deliver a passionate monologue during a play.
- If you're acting in a play, try to understand your character's motives. This will help you guess what he may or may not say.
- If your show, presentation, or speech involves other people, think about their jokes as well. How does your character or presentation relate to what others have to say? Understanding what others are saying will help you understand better when your character is going to speak.
Step 3. Write your text
After reading and reflecting on the material, you can make a note of your text. If you are memorizing lines from a long opera, you can only focus on the longer monologues. Either way, know that rewriting the text will help you handle the material faster and make you feel more in touch with the lines. You will no longer hear them as just any words on a piece of paper, but as your real words.
Remember to focus on the words as you write them. Don't do this while watching TV or listening to music. Really take the time to assimilate everything you write
Method 2 of 3: Start Memorizing Beats
Step 1. Move around while memorizing
You will memorize your text much faster if you move, gesture and show emotions as you say it. Don't just say the words, but mimic the movements you will make when you actually deliver your speech. This will help your body understand the text better.
Even if you're not gesticulating, try walking back and forth as you repeat the lines. This will also be of great help to you
Step 2. Pay attention to others
If there are other cast members on your show or other people involved in your presentation, pay special attention to what they say. Don't just wait for their monologues or statements to end up diving into yours. Rather, understand what they are saying so you know how their words relate to yours.
Try to get a good grasp of their lyrics if you don't want to brutally memorize them. Remember that the other people involved may need your help remembering their lyrics on the big day
Step 3. Use tricks
If you are stuck in memorizing the text, try a few tricks that will help you assimilate it properly. Here are some gimmicks you can try:
- Use rhymes that will help you remember the right words in a sentence.
- Use visualization. Visualize the words you will say and the message they need to communicate, and those words will come to your mind.
- Try to remember the text with acronyms.
Step 4. One piece at a time
You don't have to memorize the text from start to finish if you have a long block of text or a whole work to learn. Rather, you should break down your piece into easier-to-manage parts so that you can assimilate the entire text at the end.
- Work on memorizing the text from the beginning of the first speech. Once this is done, move on to the central part as you absorb the beginning. See how far you can go without forgetting anything. Once you have learned the initial and central parts, move on to the final one.
- If you are acting, you can work on your monologues first and then on the interaction with one character, and then another.
- Don't try to memorize too much at once. Work on small, manageable parts and it'll be a lot less frustrating.
Method 3 of 3: Perfect Your Technique
Step 1. Repeat, repeat, repeat
When you get comfortable with the text, you can praise yourself but don't stop practicing. Repeat the text as much as possible until it becomes instinctive. You should keep repeating the text until the day you have to say it, or you may forget it on the big day.
- Repeat the text when you get up in the morning and before going to sleep.
- Repeat it in the car.
- If you work in a show, repeat the text with a colleague of the cast.
- Take advantage of the patience of a friend or family member; ask if you can repeat the text from time to time.
Step 2. Record your beats
You should make an audio recording of your text and always keep it handy. On the other hand, stopping to record all the text will help you memorize it even more. If you're memorizing for a show, record all the work so you'll know when it's your turn to speak. You can listen to the recording at any time to maximize the time it takes to memorize everything.
- Listen to the recording whenever you can. Listen to it when you get up in the morning, doing chores like folding laundry, exercising, or going for a walk.
- You can also listen to the recording in the car.
Step 3. Relax
This is an important element. You should relax while memorizing the text and before saying it in public. If you fail to do this, you will be more likely to forget the text in the middle of a rehearsal or even on the big day.
Keep telling yourself that this is important. If you make a mistake, you will be able to bounce back with elegance, and it won't be the end of the world if you don't remember every single word
Step 4. Learn to improvise
If you know how, you will be much less worried about memorizing the text. Improvising is a great way to keep people from noticing that you have forgotten the text. The important thing is not to leave room for silence or confusion. Whether you are alone on stage or part of a show, everyone should show that they know what's going on even when they don't know.
- As long as you feel comfortable in your character or role, you will be able to say something similar to what you should have said.
- Remember that you are not the only one who can mess up. If you are acting, one of the other characters can also make a mistake, so you should be comfortable with everyone's lyrics so that you are able to improvise if necessary.
Advice
- It is a good idea to take a ten minute break between paragraphs or parts that you choose yourself. If you do it all at once you have little chance of memorizing.
- Find someone in the family to read the text for you. Have him read the passage before yours and see if you remember your part.
- Repeat your speech while doing the usual everyday things, like walking the dog, eating (repeat in mind), etc.
- If you have a lot of sentences to memorize and some time to spare, do it over a couple of days.
- Try to memorize the text on an empty stomach. This way your mind will be able to process it better.
- If you are acting, try to get a part that you are capable of playing, do not overdo it. Try to get a bigger part every time, but don't get one you can't handle.
- Record text with an audio recorder and listen to it while you sleep. The sentences will float in your subconscious and you will most likely memorize them faster.
- It is important (if you can) to have someone to help you by reading something from the surrounding parts of your text. If he does, switch roles so you know what references to listen to to know when it's your turn to speak.
- Try to read as much as you can. Then ask someone to test you.
