Once you have taken the time to memorize your peg words, using the system
is easy. As a simple example, we'll use the rhyming peg words
and the country list example:
1 (bun) Canada
2 (shoe) USA
3 (tree) Mexico
4 (door) Belize
5 (hive) Guatemala
6 (sticks) El Salvador
Note: This is an example only. You don't have to use the mental pictures
that I suggest here; you should use those that work the best for you.
You can also use your own peg words.
1. When I think of Canada, I think of a maple leaf, because that's what
is on their flag. So I'll associate a maple leaf with a bun. I can
imagine making a hot dog, but instead of a wiener, I put maple leaves
in the bun. Now I eat it. Ugh! It's tough! And it doesn't taste very good!
That should be a memorable picture.
2. The good ol' USA reminds me of Uncle Sam. So I might picture old Uncle
Sam in some very new tennis shoes. There is a curious look on his face
as he looks at his new shoes.
3. I think of a Mexican climbing a tree and getting stuck in it. Since
this picture isn't as vivid as the others, I'll try to study it for a longer
time in my mind and try to add details... such as carefully considering
the exact skin color of the Mexican, what clothes he is wearing, what is
his (or her) age, what type of tree he's in, etc.
4. Belize sounds like "breeze." I think of a strong breeze causing a door
to slam shut! (This picture worked out nicely!)
5. Guatemala sounds somewhat like "go to mall". I might think of a bee
leaving a bee hive and traveling some distance to arrive at a huge bee
hive which could be a shopping mall for bees!
6. El Salvador ends in "vador" which reminds me of Darth Vader. I might
think of Darth Vader using a stick instead of a light saber!
With these vivid pictures, recall should be easy. Given any country, I
can recall the number or vice-versa. Examples:
I'm given the country Belize. I think of the breeze. What about
it? Aha... it's a strong breeze, and it causes a door to slam shut. "Four
is a door", so I know the correct number is four.
I'm given the number 6. "Six is sticks," so I need to think of
what I associated with sticks. I recall the humorous image of Darth Vader
using a stick instead of a light saber. "Vader" ... what country has to
do with "vader"? Aha... it must be "El Sal-vador".
Document last modified
27 May 00. (C) 1996-2000
Kevin Jay North; see also full
copyright notice & disclaimers..