Why Forgetting Is Not A Bad Thing
Willy A Renandya, 6 August 2025
In ESL classes, we want students to learn new words, understand grammar, and speak better. We teach lessons, practice together, and hope students remember what they’ve learned. But here’s something most teachers notice but don’t always talk about: students forget things really fast.
And it’s not their fault. It’s not your fault as a teacher, either. The truth is, our brains are built to forget.
Forgetting isn’t a sign that someone isn’t trying. It doesn’t mean the lesson didn’t work. Forgetting is a normal part of learning. In fact, it starts happening right after a lesson ends—sometimes within minutes.
Let’s take a look at why this happens and how we can work with it instead of against it.
Why Do Students Forget So Fast?
A long time ago, a scientist named Hermann Ebbinghaus did memory tests. He found that people forget most of what they learn very quickly if they don’t go over it again. For example:
- You teach 10 new words in class: apple, banana, carrot, bread, cheese, egg, milk, juice, chicken, rice.
- At the end of class, students can match the words to pictures and use them in sentences.
- The next day, you ask, “What does carrot mean?” and many students pause or can’t remember.
This is normal. Studies show that without review, people can forget over half of new information in just one day. This is called the forgetting curve. It’s not broken—it’s how the brain works.
The brain holds onto things we use often and lets go of things we don’t. So if a word or grammar rule isn’t used again, the brain says, “This isn’t important right now,” and it fades.
Forgetting Can Actually Help Learning
We usually think of forgetting as bad. But it can be helpful. When a student forgets something and then tries to remember it again, that effort makes the memory stronger.
Think of it like riding a bike. You might not ride for months, but when you get back on, you slowly remember how. Each time you ride, it feels easier. The same thing happens with language.
For example:
- A student learns the past tense of “go” is “went.”
- Two days later, they forget and say “goed.”
- You correct them, and they say “went.”
- The next time, they’re more likely to get it right because they relearned it.
That second try often sticks better than the first.
Forgetting Starts Right Away, Even After a Good Lesson
Even if a lesson goes well, students will start to forget what they learned as soon as they leave the classroom. That doesn’t mean the lesson was a waste. It just means one time isn’t enough.
Here’s an example:
- On Monday, students learn how to use “will” for future plans: “I will call my mom.”
- They practice in pairs and do a worksheet. Everything looks good.
- On Tuesday, you ask, “What will you do after school?” and some students just stare or say, “I go home.”
This is not failure. It’s normal. The brain needs to see and use new language many times before it really sticks.
How Teachers Can Help Students Remember Better
Instead of being upset when students forget, we can plan for it. Here are simple, practical ways to help:
1. Bring Back Old Stuff Often
Don’t teach something once and move on. Bring it back the next day, then a few days later, then next week. For example: Start each class with 5 minutes of quick review.
“Last time we learned jobs. Name three jobs we talked about.”
“Tell your partner one thing you did yesterday using the past tense.”
2. Let Students Use the Language
Students remember better when they do something with the words, not just write or repeat them. For instance: Instead of just filling in blanks, have students ask each other. “What will you eat for dinner?” or “Have you ever ridden a horse?”. Talking makes the language real.
3. Tell Students Forgetting Is Normal
Say things like: “It’s OK to forget. Everyone does.” “If you forget, it just means you need to see it one more time.” This helps students feel less stressed and more willing to try.
4. Ask Questions That Make Them Think
Don’t just give the answer. Make them dig it out of their memory. For example:
- “Without looking at your paper, tell me four weather words.”
- “What’s the past tense of ‘eat’? Think…”
5. Connect New Things to What They Already Know
The brain remembers better when new things are linked to old ones.
Example:
- “You know the word ‘look.’ Now we’re learning ‘look forward to.’ What do you think it means?”
- “You’ve eaten pizza. Today we’re learning ‘lasagna.’ What’s similar or different?”
Learning a Language Takes Time
We live in a world that wants quick results. Some language learning apps say “Speak English in 7 days!” But real language learning is slow. It’s full of starts, stops, and forgetting.
Students don’t learn a word or grammar rule once and remember it forever. They learn it, forget it, hear it again, use it, forget it again, and slowly, and over time, make it their own.
As ESL teachers, we don’t need to stop forgetting. We need to help students come back to the language again and again in ways that make sense and feel safe.
So when a student says, “I forgot that word,” don’t worry. Smile and say: “Good. Now let’s remember it again. And next time, it’ll be easier.”
Because in ESL, forgetting isn’t the end. It’s just part of the journey.