Memorize Shakespeare

Do you need to memorize lines from a Shakespeare play? This app will accelerate the rate at which you learn your lines.

How does it work? The app gives you 3 levels for a character you select:

-Level 1 shows you your lines, just as they’re written.

-Level 2 shows you the first letter of each word in your lines.

-Level 3 shows you the first letter of each line.

To get the most out of this app, simply read over your lines in a given scene enough times to be comfortable reading them out loud with some characterization. Then move to level 2. Because level 2 requires you to recall information, but still gives you a prompt, your brain begins to more quickly encode the information.

Professor Monisha Pasupathi says, “Every time we recall things we’ve learned, that occasion of recall functions as a new learning episode… when you engage in retrieving learning, you give yourself another chance to encode… When you engage in testing over and over again, you actually end up increasing what you remember over time. This is a very powerful and important idea…” (How We Learn, The Great Courses, p. 23).

By hiding most of the word but getting the first letter as a prompt, you’re able to read quickly through your lines at level 2, all the while forcing your brain to recall the information that you can’t see.

When you’re quickly reading through level 2, move to level 3.