What it takes to write a textbook for language learners

Ever wondered what goes into making language learning materials? It is not just about throwing together a few grammar exercises and calling it a day. The process is a blend of creativity, pedagogy, and a touch of technological magic. Whether it’s for the classroom or for online learning courses, the aim is always the same – to make language learning engaging, effective, and accessible. Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at how all of this comes together at inlingua. 

Questions, questions, questions! 

Before anything is written, wehave todo a deepdive into research. Through surveys and interviews, classroom visits and observations we try to understand our learners’ exact needs. Who are they? What challenges do they face? What keeps them motivated? What are their goals? Why do they want to learn a language? Once we have a clear picture of our learners, we start planning:How should we structure the material?Which techniquesshould we follow? A communicative approach, task-based learning, or a mix? (You’ll learn more about the unique inlingua method in next month’s blog.)What are the different components of our learning materials? What is the most sensible use of technology to go with them? What should the teachers’ resources look like? And what feels like a million more questions emergeto be answered! 

The fun part— content writing and the magic of design! 

Content writing usually happens in three stages. For the first – as ever – we start with our learners. What do we want them to learn while working through our materials? This means we have to write very clear goals for each unit and each key point of every unit. Next, we search for topics that will match the objectives and will be interesting, engaging, and relevant for the learners. Finally, catchy dialogues, real-world reading passages, and digestible grammar explanations are created to keep students interested. Exercises need to provide structured practice while also encouraging real, authentic communication. Matching audio and video materials bring language to life, making learning feel relevant. 

A greattextbookisn’tjust about words, it’s also about the design. A clear, intuitive layout makes it easier for students to navigate. Thoughtfully chosen visuals, like illustrations, infographics, and icons, support understanding without overwhelming the page. Digital elements add interactivity, from exercises with instant feedback, to quizzes that make learning more dynamic, and gamification features that motivate learners. 

The second most important people – the trainers! 

Trainer resources and training play a crucial roles in the process of writing learning materials. No matter how well-designed they are, their impact solely depends on how effectively teachers can use them in the classroom. That’s why we provide comprehensive trainertraining courses, guides, lesson plans, and additional support materials to help them bring the content to life. We support them with suggestedadditional classroom activities, differentiation strategies, as well as background information on the unit topics. These resources ensure that inlingua trainers have the confidence and flexibility to adapt lessons to their students’ needs. Our digital platformmy.inlingua offers all training courses and interactive tools that enabletrainers to have the same experience with our digital tools as our learners, so they can make the most of the resources available to them. 

Ready for publication! 

Once everything is polished, it’s time for publication. That means meticulous editing and proofreading to eliminate errors, followed by the final production process—whether that’s printing books or launching digital content. But even after release, the work isn’t done. Through a thorough feedback process, we monitor how learners and teachers interact with the materials, making regular updates to keep things fresh, relevant, and in line with new educational trends.Language learning evolves, and so must our resources. Whether it’s incorporating new research in linguistics, updating cultural references, or leveraging the latest educational technology, we are always refining and improving. This continuous development ensures that learners get the most out of their experience and stay motivated on their language-learning journey. 

Creating student books and digital learning materials is not just about assembling exercises, it is about crafting an immersive, effective learning experience. It takes research, creativity, and a lot of time to get it right, but when learners engage with the content and make progress, it is all worth it! 

Written by: Julia Silvère

 

How AI Authoring Tools are becoming the ultimate time-saver for language trainers

In the ever-evolving landscape of language learning, technology continues to reshape the way we teach, learn, and most recently also how we create our teaching content. The newest innovation, AI Authoring Tools based onLarge Language Models (LLMs), is set to fundamentally transform how educators and learners approach language acquisition. This blog delves deep into the features, benefits, and practical applications of the cutting-edge inlingua AI AuthoringTool – a prime example of utilising AI to the learners’ and trainers’ benefit. 

The Challenge of Increasing Learners’ Active Vocabulary 

Vocabulary acquisition is fundamental to language learning but creating meaningful and pedagogically sound vocabulary tasks that foster active use in language learners can be time-consuming and immensely difficult. If you are a teacher, you know how you or your colleagues often spend hours curating words, writing relevant definitions, ensuring contextual relevance, and balancing difficulty levels. Furthermore, poorly constructed lists will hinder progress, leading to frustration and disengagement in learners. A prime example of a lose-lose situation! 

This is exactly where AI Authoring Tools come into play. With only a few well-written prompts, the AI will create hundreds of vocabulary items, level-appropriate definitions, and set them into the right context, ready for learners to use in multiple languages. Additionally, it will create matching images for relevant vocabulary, as well as create authentic audios for listening and pronunciation practice. 

Let’s have a look at this, shall we? 

What can the inlingua AI Authoring Tool do?

  • Analyse Context: The tool can analyse text from any source—articles, dialogues, or learning materials—to extract contextually relevant vocabulary. 
  • Create Glossaries: Based on a trainer’s prompts, the tool will create relevant glossaries for any context in English, German, Spanish, Catalan, French, Italian, and Portuguese. 
  • Assess Difficulty Levels: By evaluating word frequency and linguistic complexity, the tool ensures that the vocabulary is appropriately challenging for learners at different proficiency levels. 
  • Provide Keywords, Definitions and Examples: The tool automatically generates concise keywords, definitions and example sentences tailored to the learner’s language level. 
  • Create Images: Depending on the vocabulary item, especially at a lower level, it is easier for a learner to understand its meaning through an image. The AI Authoring Tool will create it for you. 
  • Incorporate Customisation: Educators can fine-tune the lists by adding or removing words, adjusting definitions, or changing example sentences to align with specific teaching objectives. 

Key Benefits

  • Time Efficiency: Trainers can create high-quality vocabulary lists in minutes, freeing up time for lesson planning and other critical tasks.
  • Learner-Centric: The tool adapts to different proficiency levels, ensuring learners receive vocabulary that is both useful and achievable.
  • Enhanced Engagement: By incorporating words from authentic and engaging texts, the tool makes vocabulary learning more relevant and enjoyable.
  • Consistency and Accuracy: AI-driven suggestions ensure that vocabulary lists are pedagogically sound and linguistically accurate. 

This all sounds great, but what happens with the content once it’s created, I hear you ask. Well, have a look at the next paragraph: 

Great! But what now? 

As is the case with the inlingua AI Authoring Tool, most tools will be integrated or directly connected to your Learning Management System (LMS). Therefore, learners are able to access your AI-generated content from their accounts, usually in the form of engaging and fun activities. inlingua’s interactive LMS, my.inlingua, offers the following features to its users. 

  • Personalised Learning Paths: Activities and Tasks are continuously created based on the individual learner’s previous performance. 
  • Personalised Learning Context: Your student is super interested in a niche topic, and you have found out that talking about it is the quickest way for them to learn the target language? Trainers can create glossaries using the context of interest and assign it directly to individual learners. 
  • Speech-recognition: Learners can improve their pronunciation by using the integrated speech-recognition tool which gives them instant feedback. 
  • Self-Directed Learning: Learners can practise their vocabulary wherever and whenever they like. my.inlingua is available on a phone, tablet, and computer.
  • Assessment Preparation: They can use targeted AI-generated vocabulary lists to help them prepare for exams or specific language tasks. 
  • Additional post-lesson practice: During a speaking or writing lesson, there is usually a lot of new vocabulary that needs clarification. Trainers can simply create a glossary and let the AI do its magic, generating definitions and examples ready for learners to practise with. 
  • Pre-teach vocabulary: Learners can prepare for a lesson by practising the vocabulary before coming to class. 

Turning the focus on what truly matters 

AI Authoring Tools represent a significant leap forward in language learning technology. By simplifying the process of creating effective vocabulary exercises, we empower educators and learners alike. 

AI makes language learning more accessible, engaging, and effective for everyone. This tool is about revolutionising how languages are taught and learned. By providing educators with reliable, adaptable tools and enabling learners to take charge of their own progress, they can focus on what truly matters: mastering the language! 

The inlingua AI Authoring Tool is exclusively available to licensees and learners of official inlingua centres. If you would like more information on this, contact service@inlingua.com. 

Share your thoughts in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you!  Written by: Julia Silvère

According to a recent study, half of the 7,139 languages currently spoken worldwide are threatened with extinction. Projections indicate that by the end of this century, 1,500 of these languages may no longer be in use.

The threat to global language diversity is highlighted in a study published in the journal Nature, Ecology and Evolution. According to estimates, one language is currently dying out every three months. Without action, the rate of language loss could triple in the next 40 years, with one language disappearing every month.

Languages Are More Than Words

Of the approximately 7,000 languages currently spoken worldwide, 52% are spoken by fewer than 10,000 people, 28% by fewer than 1,000 and at least 10% by fewer than 100 people. In the age of global communication, the chances of these 6,300 languages surviving in most parts of the world are slim. By the year 2100, more than half of these languages will have disappeared. According to pessimistic estimates, as many as 90% of languages are threatened with extinction. Even language communities with 20,000 or 50,000 members are often severely endangered.

When it comes to evaluating a language as endangered, the age distribution of speakers is more important than the number of speakers. In Indonesia, there are languages that currently have up to two million native speakers. These native speakers however are primarily older people who have hardly passed on their language to the younger generation, if at all. A contrasting example can be seen with the Ladin language. Although only 30,000 people speak Ladin, this language is currently not endangered because almost all of the children learn the language as their mother tongue. The Hawaiian language provides another illustration. Thanks to Hawaiian being taught throughout the entire public school system, the language has stabilized and is not endangered, even with only 1,000 speakers.

Our generation is experiencing a dramatic impoverishment of cultural heritage. With every language that dies out, a culture and a particular way of understanding the world and responding linguistically to the challenges of community and environment disappears. At inlingua International, we recognize the intrinsic value of each language as a vital component of cultural heritage. As an experienced provider of high-quality global language services with a strong network of licensees, we aim to advance unlimited communication and foster connections between diverse communities. By offering language learning opportunities across the globe, we not only support language acquisition but also contribute to the preservation of cultural identity and mutual understanding among communities.

Linguists Concern

Language endangerment is a serious problem. The culture, values, thinking, and worldview of a community are shaped by the language spoken at home during childhood. When a language disappears, a significant part of humanity’s intangible heritage is lost, which almost always leads to social and cultural upheaval.

As expressed by Professor Lindell Bromham, an evolutionary biologist at the Australian National University, “When a language is lost or is ‘sleeping’ as we say for languages that are no longer spoken, we lose so much of our human cultural diversity”.

Concern about endangered languages focuses on the reasons why speakers abandon their language and the social and psychological consequences of language loss for the community. Linguists are particularly concerned about the impact on the communities affected. Not only is linguistic diversity being lost, but also valuable knowledge about language and communication as a human phenomenon.

Getting to the Bottom of the Causes

Studies by the Australian National University (ANU) show a correlation between formal education and language endangerment. Consider when there is an emphasis on teaching and testing in the dominant national language over indigenous languages. An indigenous mother tongue can be displaced by another language and die out even though it was still spoken in childhood.

Since education often focuses on the dominant language, parents may stop using the mother tongue at home to help their children succeed in school. By not using the mother tongue anymore, the transmission of the inherited language from the older generations to the younger ones is reduced or stopped. The conclusion is that fewer and fewer people will continue to use their first or main language and, as a result, the language may no longer be spoken at all.

The density of roads is also a threat to endangered languages in certain regions. Although interaction with other languages aids in preserving indigenous ones, exposure to global influences might not have the same effect. According to Professor Lindell Bronham, co-author of the study, “We found that the more roads there are, connecting country to city, and villages to towns, the higher the risk of languages being endangered. It’s as if roads are helping dominant languages ‘steam roll’ over other smaller languages.”

A growing awareness of the importance of cultural diversity can be observed in many regions of the world. Unfortunately, these countries, and especially the small language communities, lack the necessary means to promote their languages. With many languages spoken by small groups of people, there is not even a rudimentary description of the grammar available to create teaching materials. Linguistics is currently primarily concerned with documenting endangered languages and promoting the continued existence of linguistic and cultural diversity – where human society also has an important role to play.

Saving the Indigenous Languages

A study from 2013 addressed the idea that the digital world is said to be displacing indigenous dialects at the expense of major languages. Today, it is precisely this technologically networked world that could save endangered languages. Specialized apps help with learning endangered languages online, while also promoting language preservation. Ma! Iwaidja, for example, is an app that allows those working with speakers of the indigenous Australian language Iwaidja to record words, phrases and translations.

The Rosetta Project aims to create a freely accessible digital library of human languages. With a collection of around 100,000 pages of documents and records in more than 2,500 languages, they want to draw attention to the “drastic and accelerating loss of languages in the world” and potentially save many endangered and dormant languages.

With the International Decade for Indigenous Languages, UNESCO is launching an initiative to focus on the issue of language loss worldwide. Building on the International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019, a global network is being created that is committed to the protection and preservation of indigenous languages and rights.

“Many of the languages predicted to be lost this century still have fluent speakers, so there is still the chance to invest in supporting communities to revitalize indigenous languages and keep them strong for future generations.”

(Professor Bromham, Jan 5, 2022)

Key Elements that Sustain Language Vitality in Communities

Key factors for language vitality include actively speaking the language within homes and communities for communication needs, and a full oral transmission to all children. Additionally, speakers need to recognize the advantages—whether economic, social, religious, or cultural—of using their language orally, while government policies affirm its spoken use. Finally, the shared norms held by community members regarding when to use their local language in contrast to when a more dominant language should be utilized.

Sources:

This is why half of the world’s languages are endangered | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Global predictors of language endangerment and the future of linguistic diversity | Nature Ecology & Evolution

A decade to prevent the disappearance of 3,000 languages – UNESCO-IESALC

2022 – 2032 International Decade of Indigenous Languages

Endangered languages

Endangered Languages | SIL Global

 
 

Autumn is here and you have decided to start studying again. Whether you have taken time off due to vacation, illness or other personal circumstances, getting back into the learning rhythm after a break can be a real challenge. It doesn’t matter whether you have decided on a university degree or a language course at inlingua, returning to study can be difficult.

Ideally, you’ll be excited and optimistic. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, don’t let it bother you. Just because you’ve been out of practice doesn’t mean it’s all gone. Your “study mode” is still there. With the right attitude and some advice, you’ll be able to switch it back on in no time. Follow a few steps and you’ll be able to get back into a study routine, make your learning process more effective, and get your academic goals within reach. Don’t waste time; your books are waiting, and we want you to get the most out of your study sessions.

Just follow these recommendations to get back to your learning routine.

👆 1: Organization is everything

Having a clear plan increases your chance of success and helps prevent stress. You won’t miss deadlines, and you won’t let yourself get swamped with work if your schedule is always in front of you!

It’s also a good idea to supplement your schedule with daily and weekly to-do lists. At the end of each week, you’ll have a clear overview of what still needs to be done and what has been completed. With lists, you can keep everything under control despite potential delays or hiccups. As we all know, even the most carefully constructed plans sometimes get derailed.

👆 2: Routine matters

After setting major study goals, it is crucial to establish a consistent learning routine. Routines shape our daily structure and can have a powerful impact if we adhere to a well-organized schedule. This helps avoid the pitfalls of losing track of time or falling behind.

Routines can also help you be more efficient. If you have a full-time job, it’s a good idea to regularly clear your mind with some exercise before studying. After you’ve finished your lesson, you can then completely switch off and enjoy your leisure time.

With these routines, you will find that you are more focused. It will be easier to concentrate and you will be able to fully relax when your work is done.

👆 3: Are you an early bird or a night owl?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to learning. It's important to find out the time of day when you are most productive, and then align your study schedule with your most efficient hours. Are you bursting with energy and motivation in the morning? Or are you a night owl, with evening or post-dinner study sessions the ideal solution?

Be patient, it will take time to discover how and when you are most productive. As soon as you change your schedule to take advantage of your peak capacity for learning, you will notice that your focus will be sharper and more intense.

👆 4: Find the right spot!

Locating the right place to study is essential for getting the most out of your learning sessions. Ideally, you should have a dedicated study area. Separating relaxation from learning helps improve concentration. The study spot could be your office or even just the kitchen table—it doesn’t matter, so long as it’s tidy and organized. However, some people struggle to focus at home, finding distractions too tempting. Does this sound familiar? A local park or a nearby café might be a great alternative study spot for you. Ambient noise in cafés can promote creative thinking.

👆 5: Do not disturb!

In today’s hyper-connected world, we are constantly distracted in some way. You’re sitting at your desk, motivated, wanting to study efficiently and then the phone rings or an email arrives.

On average, it takes our brains 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction. Even if this was just a quick glance at your smart phone, it distracts you from learning. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is real! Humans are curious creatures and always want to know what’s going on around them. You can easily limit your distractions by switching your phone to flight mode or “Do not disturb”. Another option to protect your learning time is to put the smartphone in another room. Out of sight, out of mind.

👆 6: Focus like a “tomato”

Do you know the simple but effective Pomodoro technique  to improve your concentration? It consists of working with high concentration for 25 minutes, followed by a five-minute break. This cycle is repeated three more times before taking a longer break of 30 minutes. There are many other productivity and concentration techniques that may give your study sessions an extra boost. It is worth trying out different techniques and finding out which one is right for you.

👆 7: Don’t hesitate to ask questions

Questions are always allowed and are a much better option than just feeling lost. Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for advice or help, that’s their job. At the same time, they can also help you with any tips about learning. Anyone in the teaching profession has years of experience and was also once a student. Through this collaboration, new ideas and perspectives can be gained, as well as a bond forged.

👆 8: Importance of a balanced, healthy life

If you enjoy the learning process, it can be very tempting to overdo it. Continue to make sure you have a good work-life balance. Even if you are bursting with enthusiasm and motivation, it’s important to set boundaries. Never set yourself up for a burnout, whether you are learning full-time or if you’re trying to educate yourself while working a full-time job.

The longer you study, the more important it is to take regular breaks. Just a few minutes are enough for your brain to recharge and get your concentration back on track. If you feel tired or frustrated, your body and brain are letting you know that you need a break. One study-free day a week is recommended to clear your head. After you are refreshed, you can throw yourself into the next learning unit with new energy. Keep in mind that healthy habits improve our learning. This includes sleep. Only with enough sleep can our brains function properly, consolidating what we have learned and our memories. It’s no wonder that we have trouble concentrating and learning when we are tired. A healthy and balanced diet is another important topic. Our memory and our ability to concentrate are strongly linked to the consumption of the right nutrients. Certain foods boost brain health.

Of course, a healthy lifestyle also includes exercise. Regular exercise can improve your memory and even increase your ability to concentrate. Research shows that it is much easier to memorize new words while learning a language during a walk. Just 10 minutes of gentle exercise can lead to better concentration.

Find success

Getting back into learning after a long break is thrilling and can be the start of a fresh chapter in your life, or even the beginning of a new career path. Here is a final push to guide you on the road to success.

Reflection boosts your study efficiency:
The key to effective studying is to regularly reflect on your study sessions. To succeed you need to assess what techniques and strategies are working well for you. Adapt your approach as needed to maximize your studying effectiveness.

Keep on going:
Being consistent is the secret of getting back on track with studying after a long break. Follow your study plan, focus on your goals, and stay disciplined in your approach.

Sometimes you lose heart when you go back to school after a long break. Be kind to yourself as you get back behind the books. Too much pressure can lead to a loss of motivation. Celebrate your wins and progress – however small. Reward yourself when you accomplish your goals – no matter what they are.

The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to learn. Just like any other skill it may be difficult at first, but perseverance will pay off! It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Keep in mind that it’s common to have setbacks or off days. Give yourself the time you need, keep your focus and stay determined. Success in your studies is within reach. All the best!

Sources:

Back on Track: How to Start Studying After a Summer Break | Blog StudyCorgi

The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review – Harris Cooper, Barbara Nye, Kelly Charlton, James Lindsay, Scott Greathouse, 1996 (sagepub.com)

9 tips to help you get back into learning after a long break – Rest Less

6 tips on how to be more effective after a long study break (kaplan.co.uk)

How to Study After a Long Break – Powerful Sight

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18602754/

Pomodoro® Technique – Time Management Method (pomodorotechnique.com)

10 smart productivity techniques you should know about (timelyapp.com)

We have all been in classes where the person in charge provides information that we study and learn. This is known as a teacher-centered approach. However, there are also classes where the learners take the lead, resulting in learning by doing.

This article provides a closer look at two learner-centered approaches that can help you achieve your language learning goals: Task-Based Learning (TBL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL). Both approaches will be introduced and evaluated for their differences.

What is Task-Based Learning (TBL)?

The completion of specific tasks is the focus of TBL. Tasks are defined as those that are performed in everyday life, and are therefore authentic to the learners’ context. TBL was originally used by foreign-language teachers who applied “Communicative Language Teaching” (CLT) – a methodology that emerged in the 1970s.

TBL has three stages:

  1. Pre-Task where the trainer prepares, contextualizes and motivates the learners.
  2. Performance of the Task by the learners. Small groups or pairs are preferable to larger groups. The results are reported to the other learners.
  3. Post-Task is the evaluation of the performance. Peer reviews are the ideal method for this stage.

The assigned tasks can be simple or complicated depending on the learners’ language level. The important aspect is that learners focus on actual communication and not just repetition of memorized knowledge.

“By immersing students in relevant tasks, TBL promotes linguistic fluency, accuracy, and pragmatic competence.”

TBL allows learners to prioritize “real communication”. The learners find themselves in “authentic situations” where they have to use all of their skills. “It makes learners aware of their needs and encourages them to take (some of the) responsibility for their own learning.”

Learners must communicate with each other in order to complete the task. Using the necessary skills builds confidence and improves motivation. The understanding of language is on a different level since there is a realistic context.

What is Project Based Learning (PBL)?

“(Project)-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered approach in which students learn about a subject by working in groups to solve an open-ended problem. This problem is what drives the motivation and the learning.”[1] Usually, the projects are interdisciplinary and involve a variety of skills.

Projects are discussed and analyzed with the seven-step approach: 1.   Clarifying unfamiliar terms 2.   Problem definition 3.   Brainstorm 4.   Analyzing the problem 5.   Formulating learning goals 6.   Self-study

7.   Reporting

Rather than teaching relevant material and subsequently having learners apply the knowledge to solve problems, the problem is presented first.

Learners are challenged to think critically and not only develop solutions to address the problem but also communicate the solutions. The role of the trainer shifts to that of a “project manager” as the learners take center stage and work independently.

A distinct advantage of PBL is the motivation it provides for learners as “(it) brings facts to life.” Learners are given the chance to tackle complex problems and develop skills for future success. Project-Based Learning involves longer-term projects, that require more time to plan, execute, and complete.

Conclusion

Both TBL and PBL prioritize the development of communication skills with an emphasis on practical application. The primary learning objective of TBL is to develop communicative competence and language proficiency as well as the use of language in social and cultural contexts.

The learning objectives of PBL go beyond language acquisition. PBL aims to foster effective communication and the collaboration necessary for “real-world” problem-solving. TBL is shorter in duration while PBL takes more time and demands more planning.

Both of these learner-centered approaches have the potential to make learning more enjoyable, valuable and effective. Consider these methods when you are exploring the type of learning environment that you want to experience.

Sources:

Long, M. H. “A Role for Instruction in Second Language Acquisition: Task-Based Language Teaching” 1985

https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/task-based-learning/

https://issuu.com/martinez09/docs/pdf_task_based_learning/s/10927630

https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/tbl-vs-pbl/

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/knowing-subject/articles/tbl-and-pbl-two-learner-centred

https://teaching.cornell.edu/problem-based-learning

stap 1: begripsverheldering (eur.nl)

https://blog.definedlearning.com/blog/what-is-project-based-learning

 

Our sense of smell is closely connected to the part of the brain that processes memory. In ancient times, rosemary was thought to strengthen memory.

It is believed that the herb was worn as a crown by students in ancient Greece to improve performance when taking exams.

Fragrance assists learning process

This link between smell and memory has fascinated scientists and driven research to clarify the connection between smell, memory and learning.

Using fragrance to assist in the learning process is an interesting and attractive idea!

Memory during sleep

Current research has focused on a specific aspect. Can a scent impact the consolidation of memory during sleep? From the experimental data, evidence is growing that this is the case. A recent study examines the targeted use of scent and memory recall. Students who were exposed to a particular aroma while learning English vocabulary and then again when sleeping, performed better on a vocabulary test than those who did not receive any olfactory cues or those who did not receive the cues during sleep.

The results from this study are important. While there is no suggestion that sleep replaces studying, there do appear to be ways to assist memory formation and optimize learning during sleep.

This concept is supported by another study conducted with older adults. Exposure to essential oils over time indicated improved cognitive ability.

Positive learning environment

The use of scent to create a positive learning environment is nothing new. However, the direct correlations now revealed are exciting. Some of the plant extracts of particular interest include rosemary, peppermint, lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, frankincense and orange.

Practical tips

Are you interested in a personal application of this research? Here are some practical tips:

  • Study Time: While studying, use a diffuser with your chosen essential oil to create an association between the scent and the material.
  • Sleep Consolidation: Place a sachet of the scent near your pillow or use a diffuser in your bedroom to reinforce memory consolidation during sleep.
  • Classroom Connection: Teachers can enhance the classroom environment with mild scents to boost concentration and memory retention.

The results from lab studies are promising and we are excited to learn what the future holds! Broader applications could extend to enhancing productivity and maintaining cognitive health in older adults.

Let’s harness the power of scent to make learning more effective and enjoyable!

Sources:

Exam revision students ‘should smell rosemary for memory’ – BBC News

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-57613-7

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1200448/full