Making connections can be very simple.
Just free associate. You do not have to be aware of the class of association in order for an association to be there or be strong.
That is, you do not have to associate places with places. You do not have to rhyme. You do not have to associate pieces or syllables of words with other information.
Every subject, every word, every idea brings up associations. You merely have to find and reinforce links between what is new and not very meaningful to what is already stored and significantly meaningful.
You might simply ask, "What does this remind me of that is signficant to me? If I were to take this information very personally, what would I experience?"