I find that these 6 memorizing strategies work the best . * Associate. Use basic characteristics of memory to learn new material. * Visualize. Use mental imagery to support goals, rehearse skills and reinforce other techniques. * Verbalize. Use words and writing to learn faster. * Simulate. Simulate real-life performances using basic or advanced tools. * Perform. Use specific techniques to learn skills and behaviors. * Repeat. Use repetition techniques to help you lock in what you’ve learned.

I agree with the lady before me - mnemonics, that is memory systems can work very well, but they take time and effort to set up. I think the person I admire most for what amounts to a lot of hard work is the 19th century linguist and businessman, Heinrich Schliemann. He studied languages anywhere and everywhere, long before our magical age of MP3, laptops, etc. If you can get hold of Schliemann's Selbstbiographie [autobiography] it gives a lot of information on how he learnt even whole books by "rote", repeating them. He claims he could learn many pages with only three repetitions in the end, but his memory was not nearly so good when he started. He seems to be one of a small minority of polyglots [people who speak many languages] who says how he did it. He makes it appear possible for everyone, but says it involves a great deal of work. I have learnt short pieces, but never managed long, but perhaps this is because I started relatively late and could not possibly put in the effort he did.

Try a method called 'Memory Palace'. It has great effect on a lot of people!! http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Memory-Palace