Vocabulary for Lesson 1

Instructions [ Hide ]

Learning is work. There are multiple ways to study. Different study strategies will work differently for each student. Serious students should try all of them several (6-7) times to see how they work when done well. For the best learning, every student will likely need to use more than one strategy and switch between them. Here are some tips relating to studying vocabulary. You can adapt them for memorizing texts.

  1. Use multiple senses: read, speak, and hear the material aloud. Then, write your version with a pencil into your notebook and notice how that feels. Then, read your own definition aloud as you study. (combine with the next two strategies)
  2. Use your brain: condense the definitions into a form that makes sense to you. Identify key words for every definition. Think of synonyms that you would use. (combine with the other strategies)
  3. Use your body: say your definition and act it out with an expressiveness that fits the meaning.
  4. Use your friends and family: Ask someone to quiz you using spaced repetition for a set amount of time, from your notes. (Example: for 10 minutes, all questions get repeated, but the quicker and more accurate your answer, the longer the interval until that question comes back. Questions you get wrong are repeated sooner.)
  5. Use basic technology: Show all definitions and hide all the terms on this page. Try to remember each term before you show it (by clicking the definition) to check your answer. Then, show all terms and hide the definitions on the page. Only show a definition (by clicking the term) after you have made your best effort to remember your own version of it.
  6. Use tools: Make a stack of index cards with terms on one side and your definitions on the other. When reviewing, don't check the opposite side until you've made your best effort to remember. Sort them into three stacks: Easy, Hard, and Failed. Then re-sort the Failed cards and work through the Hard cards until they are all Easy.
  7. Use advanced technology: On the web (Example: SuperNotes with free signup or with subscription.) or on an app (Example: Anki), create a stack of virtual cards and let the software quiz you. It will use spaced repetition automatically.
  8. Use brute force memorization: Copy a term and definition from this page. Then navigate to Catechesis Contents > Memorization Tool and paste it into the box, then follow the instructions on that page. (Caution: this works quickly for memorizing texts, but must be repeated a few times after a break for long-term recall. It is less effective than the other strategies for understanding what you memorize.)
Damascus
The city in Syria, northeast of Galilee, to which Saul was traveling at the time of his conversion.
Ananias the disciple
The disciple at Damascus who received a vision from the Lord to visit Saul, that Saul might receive his sight and be baptized.
St. Barnabas, Apostle
The disciple whose name means "son of encouragement." He was a Levite from the island of Cyprus. He received and befriended Paul after his conversion, and was sent out with him as a missionary on Paul's first missionary journey. His feast day is 11 June.
Tabitha (or Dorcas)
The devout Christian woman from the city of Joppa who was known for her charity and raised from the dead by Peter.