memorizing vocabulary is critical in learning a language. however, memorizing words out of context is sometimes ineffective because, without an anchor, they just sink into oblivion. how can one etch the context in one’s memory at the same time as the word? memorize a whole sentence. well doesn’t that sound like a waste of time? not at all. in addition to memorizing the word and the context, you’ll also be committing to memory the other words in the sentence and their contexts and meanings. it might also help to imagine for the sentence a visualization and possibly even other sensational semaphores such as voices, emotions, haptics, odors, or relationships. in other words, engage as many neurons in as many engrams as possible. that’s the ultimate secret. "Er beugte seinen großen, struppigen Kopf über Harry, und gab ihm einen gewiss sehr kratzigen, barthaarigen Kuss." now and hopefully forever, i will remember all of those german words with the help of Hagrid’s giant, windswept face leaning over the infantile Harry and scratching his face with a giant beard.