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Get Started
Membean is a unique vocabulary learning tool that helps you master and remember words. It combines the best insights from the science of memory to make learning stick.
An erudite vocabulary isn't built by rote memorization – it takes careful and sustained cultivation. A robust vocabulary will not just improve the quality of your writing but Membean's emphasis on micro-quizzes and high-content word pages will improve your reading comprehension.
Click the button links above to understand the basics of Membean.
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The Membean Learning Process:
Your first step is a simple calibration test that gauges the size of your receptive vocabulary and starts you off at a level that challenges you. The system then helps you learn each word in many different ways. Finally, it continually monitors each word and periodically reinforces them. The more you use the system the better it understands you!
A short video below explains the three phases of Membean: personalize, master, reinforce.
- Personalize
- Master
- Reinforce
You proceed at your own pace. Membean manages the learning process.
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Fits the Brain: Encode & Remember
Membean encourages you to build rich, interconnected knowledge networks of each word. Word learning is not restricted to definitions alone; rather, each word is taught in no fewer than 7 different ways! A smart practice engine monitors your learning and periodically refreshes memory.
See how we teach and help you remember with the videos below.-
Encode:
Learn each word in many ways
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Context
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Roots
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Memory Hooks
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Wordmaps
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Examples
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Related Words
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Context
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Remember:
Reinforce words intelligently
It's important to understand that knowing a word is more than just knowing a simple definition. The goal of Membean is to promote word consciousness. Soon you'll start noticing words in your everyday reading!
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Encode:
Learn each word in many ways
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Anatomy of a word page
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Guidelines for Learning
Consistency trumps cramming. Have 40 minutes to learn in a week? It's better to have two 15-minute sessions spaced 3 days apart than a single 40-minute session. You’ve just saved 10 minutes!
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1 Learn bite-sized: you don't have to learn everything that's shown on a page. Pick and choose what interests you. Don't spend more than 5 minutes on a single word page.
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2 Mix it up! You'll see each word numerous times. Each time you relearn a word, learn something different about it. Did you focus on the video the first time around? This time, learn word roots or read example sentences.
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3 Be consistent: it’s better to learn a few words everyday than cram a number of words into one setting. Don’t have 20 minutes to train today? Then train just 10. Don’t have 10 minutes? Just train 5!
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4 Avoid long sessions: don’t train more than 20 minutes in a single session. Long sessions lead to faster forgetting!
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5 Space out training: keep at least a few hours between sessions.
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6 Don’t stress: it's ok to miss questions - that's why it's called “training.” Some of our questions, especially fill-in-the-blank and picture questions that test pure recall, are hard! Everyone gets them wrong on occasion. In time you will answer them.
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7 Enjoy yourself: learning should be about joy and discovery. If you’re going to spend time training you’ll learn more if you are determined to enjoy yourself! Treat Membean training sessions like a game.
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You’re in Good Company
Membean is used in some of the best schools in the world. Tens of thousands of students and adult learners use Membean each day and they love it!
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Thank you for making a product that actually uses real educational techniques, and expects more out of its users than simple plug-and-chug memorization. It's incredible to find a service that is useful for even high-level learners and test-takers like myself!
– University of California, Berkeley -
Membean displays remarkable intuition about the way people learn and remember words. It may be the only vocabulary tool that has so effectively embodied what we know about learning and memory in the human brain. Even as a cognitive neuroscientist, I didn't realize I learned words in such a nonlinear way until I experienced how much easier it is to learn words with this tool. Membean is shockingly effective.
– Shereen Chaudhry, M.I.T -
I can't think of any other online vocabulary training tool that is calibrated for the user and gives such a rich word-learning environment. That's my expert opinion as a psycholinguist!
– Natalie Klein -
Thanks for the wonderful program you and your team have produced! I’ve been teaching for over 30 years, and I’ve never heard such positive feedback from students as the feedback we’re getting about Membean. Just sensational!"
– Tonie Ascher, Prestonwood Christian Academy
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My test run of Membean is going incredibly well. I'm a huge fan. I just presented Membean to the English department — teachers love it. See Robin's blog post
– Robin Neal, Beaver Country Day -
I’ve been meaning to write to you about your terrific program. This is my 46th year of teaching – and in that time I’ve even taught year-long vocabulary courses that were really fun. But I have NEVER seen the excitement for words that your Membean produces. What’s even better? The students are using the words in their essays – and they REMEMBER the words. Your program is truly awesome. Thank you so much. You are doing wonders for education!
– Claire Robbins, FWCD -
Astounding new vocabulary site. Membean is just the ticket, let me tell you. Simple, engaging way to learn a mound of vocabulary...Genius!
– Kelly Roell, About.com Test Prep Guide.
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