Are you looking for the next new thing to learn languages? Try one of the oldest and easiest methods. Relax.
Meditation ‘fools the brain’ in a threatening world By R J Ignelzi-Thanks to cutting-edge technologies like functional MRI scans, neuroscientists can look inside the brain to see if meditation actually produces physical change. Although they’re still not sure how meditation works, research is beginning to show that, in fact, it does. Science is now validating that meditation might enhance memory and attention. A study at Massachusetts General Hospital found that parts of the brain’s cerebral cortex were thicker in people who had practiced meditation daily for just 40 minutes for several years. ” Simon says. “Physiologically, when the brain is functioning in a more relaxed state, it’s able to absorb and retain memory better.”
Try meditating or deeply relaxing or sleeping after you study for your target language. I have seen many places that use this technique to increase retention. It might not seem efficient to do nothing, but when it comes to learning languages it appears to help.