Today we're looking at good ole fashioned flashcards.
These past few months I have been working to learn the 2000 most common Turkish words. I found a list and set a personal goal to learn all of them by January 1st of 2012 – last week! After a quick pass through the A words back in early November, I discovered that I knew about 70% of the words and so needed only to focus on the remaining 30% – many of which I was familiar with but not confident in. My plan was to use a computer based flashcard program called Anki and a number of other ideas to make sure that I learned all 2,000 words backwards and forwards. Now before going any further I need you to know that I failed at both my goal to learn these 2,000 words as well as my desire to use Anki to learn them. But I learned a whole lot in the process and I want to share that with you today.
My Failures
I failed to learn the words because I didn’t put in the time – it was November and December after all, months that are notoriously busy. And December is a month that I have never been able to be productive in. I am not sure what it is, but I tend to run low on motivation and will power as each year draws to a close. These are things I should have known. And so I worked very little on the goal I had set.
I also failed to use Anki effectively. I say failed because I did not continue to use it as I said I would. In reality, I quit using Anki of my own accord because I didn’t like it. Anki is a fantastic program that is downloaded to your computer and I plan on having an Anki lover write a guest post about it in the future. I learned a lot from Anki and if it suits you, it is a great learning tool. But I didn’t like using it on my computer. I guess I am old fashioned, but I found I liked using good ole fashioned paper flashcards a lot better – and so that is what I did.
Old Fashioned Flashcards
Because of what I learned using Anki though, I am now using old fashioned flashcards in a much more effective and efficient manner. Anki uses an idea called spaced repetition. By choosing how well you know a term, the program determines when you will review it next. Words you know well might only come up once a week or less. Words you have yet to learn will come up daily. This creates a much more efficient review session as little time is wasted shuffling through cards that you already know.
I am not sure why I never thought about it before, but this can easily be done with paper flashcards as well. I used to have these growing stacks of flashcards, inches thick and filled with every word I had ever written down. It would take copious amounts of time to get through the whole stack and was intimidating to even look at. More often than not, all I did was look at that stack.
Wait, I thought you said four stacks? I'll get to it in a second.
Borrowing the spaced repetition method from Anki, I now have four stacks of cards. These have allowed me to more efficiently and effectively review vocabulary using paper flashcards and I find myself reviewing a lot more often because I have removed the burden that a pile of cards six inches thick creates on my delicate mind. Here is how it works.
Pile One
Pile one is filled with the words that are new or still relatively unknown. This pile should be no more than about 50 cards so that you can review its contents in one to two minutes. If it’s more than that, you probably won’t take the time to review and it will be too bulky to keep in your pocket. Because the review is now manageable, I find myself reviewing this stack a whole lot more – sometimes four or five times a day. More consistent contact with these new words helps move them more quickly into my working vocabulary. As soon as a word from pile one becomes known – meaning I rarely have to think about its meaning any more – it gets moved to pile two.
Before we move on to pile two however, I want to mention that I also keep ten or so blank cards at the bottom of pile one. This way when I come across a new word while I am reading or listening to something, I can make sure and capture it and begin to learn it as well.
Pile Two
Pile two is filled with all the words that you now know. You have given each of these a fair amount of review, but they probably are not locked into your long term memory yet. With regular repetition though, they will soon be. I keep pile two on my desk and review these cards once or twice a week. They take a bit longer to get through as there will be more than in pile one but if you can keep them somewhere in the house where you spend a bit of time – at your desk, on the end table or perhaps beside the toilet – you can revisit them once a week in order to continue to drive them deep into your memory. The key is to keep this pile fluid – words you realize you forgotten go back to pile one while words that you feel are really locked in go to pile three.
Pile Three
Pile three is for words that are locked in. You have reviewed them and know them well. You know their meaning at first glance without a moments hesitation and are using them in speech and recognizing them right away in your reading or listening. But to make sure you don’t loose any of these you will want to review pile three once a month or so. This ensures that they don’t get lost, that you don’t come across them a year from now with that, “I know I learned this word once” feeling. Again, pile three should be fluid and some words will inevitably find their way back to pile two. Finally, when you realize that a word is super locked in and a part of your working vocabulary – for good – then feel free to move it to pile four.
Pile Four
I’ll let you in on a little secret. There is no pile four. There is a trash can however and I would encourage you to put these cards in it. Littering is bad.
Before and After
BEFORE
AFTER
Other Ideas
Using flashcards in this manner will go a long way toward helping you more quickly incorporate new words into your working vocabulary. There is more that you can do to effectively use paper flashcards and quickly grow your vocabulary though. By doing these you will maximize their use and discover even more success with learning new words.
The fist and perhaps most important is to give yourself massive amounts of input so that you increase your chances of hearing or seeing these new words in other places. Flashcards by themselves are devoid of context and emotion – two important elements that stimulate learning. By giving yourself massive amounts of input you will hear more of these new words more often in contexts that are rich in meaning and filled with emotion and this will greatly increase the speed and depth of your learning. So make sure you are:
- Having regular conversations with native speakers
- Reading daily in the target language
- Watching lots of fun movies or a TV series in the language
- Listening to podcasts or the radio in the language
And a few other ideas for improving the use of flashcards are:
- Review flashcards with a native speaker to determine if a word is worth learning or not. When doing this I found that many of the words I was working so hard to learn were actually outdated words or technical terms – words I would rarely use and had never seen. I threw them away!
- Use pictures for objects rather than writing the translation.
- Occasionally review the cards backwards – looking at your description/definition first and trying to say the target language word.
- Regularly shuffle the deck so that they order is not the same every time.
- Write the definition in light pencil so that you cannot see it through the paper.
- Use flashcards for social expressions, idioms and proverbs.
I am looking forward to continue to use flashcards in an effective and efficient manner over the coming year. I hope you too will try some of these ideas and see how they work for you. Remember, experiment and find what works for you!
How you have used flashcards to help you effectively and efficiently learn another language?
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"Aaron consistenly pumps out top quality language learning advice and motivational posts,
and is probably one of the best sources of encouragement you'll come across."
-Donovan Nagel, The Mezzofanti Guild
I’m curious what you didn’t like about Anki.
@KD0IMH I should say that it wasn’t so much that I didn’t like Anki – actually I love it. I just didn’t find myself using it on the computer. I like the feel of flipping through the flashcards, of having the control of the choice to move a card out of pile one and into pile two. I am hoping to have a guest post all about Anki in the coming weeks. It is an invaluable tool. For me it was just a preference.
@aarongmyers@KD0IMH Unfortunately, a preference that will cost you a lot as a language learner. Especially when you proceed in your learning – it’s simply not feasible to keep track of thousands of paper cards and their individual review schedules.
Of course, everybody is free to do it their own way, but I think using an SRS as part of one’s language learning will make one a much more successful learner. It’s not easy though – change never is. Those who go the extra mile will be able to cash in further down the road though.
@commoner Thanks for the comment. I agree that the functionality of the SRS systems out there are better. However, I hope that by trying to create a similar – albeit not as scientific – system with the paper flashcards, I am having similar success. But I don’t use paper flashcards because they are better – I know they are not. I use them because I do use them where as I could not find a way to use Anki consistently. I don’t know why, but it is easy for me to carry around my stack of cards and pull them out a few times each day and add a few new words each day. Using a lesser system well is always better than Not using a better system, as the case was for me.
My goal though is to help those who, like me, find the old fashioned paper flashcards a better fit. I guess I always want to maximize whatever system works best for me. I learned how to do that from Anki and I hope that many who do prefer paper flashcards will now use them more effectively and efficiently. As far as keeping track of 1,000s of flashcards, I don’t. I throw them away. After I have them locked in good, extensive reading and watching and listening are enough to keep them active in my long term memory. Will I lose a few? – certainly.
Thanks for promoting SRS systems though. I do think they are better – that is why I asked Rich to guest post today about Anki. He does a good job and I hope will convince many to go ahead and use them.
I didn’t really care for Anki on the computer either. I do, however, really like it on my small tablet. I tend to have my tablet with me wherever I go, so it’s pretty easy to whip out and hit the Anki icon.
@hrhenry I think if I had a tablet or had put it on my ipod, I may have liked it better. Like is really the wrong word – I would have used it more.
Dear Aaron, good post about flashcards and your own spaced repetition system (SRS). I can understand about the tactile feel of paper cards (books vs Kindle?). However, I think Anki’s algorithm that keeps track of your progress and the portability and ease of use of the iPhone/iPod app cannot be beaten.
I’ve had students say that Anki does not match their learning style. Then they take the paper vocabulary sheet and fold it in half, flipping back and forth. Change is always hard, I guess…
Cheers,
Rich
@Rich Bailey You know maybe that is it – change is hard. Using the program on the computer was just not doing it for me. I won’t deny Anki anything – it’s great.
Hey Aaron, nice post, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with flashcards and I’ve tried some electronically based programs but like you, it’s tough to find something that I like better than just plain old index cards. One of the on-line fashcard programs I like, and which I suggest my students use in my writing class, is Quizlet. But again, learning styles differ and if you find something that works, why bother making it complicated. Happy new year btw.
@hawaiigavin Thanks for stopping by Gavin. There are a number of different programs out there. I think I have six now on the Getting Started Resource Page, but like you, I think everyone has to find what works for them and then maximize it. It’s good to experiment though – I learned a ton trying out Anki. Happy new year to you as well.
Good post. I use paper flashcards to study a broad range of things, from languages to techie tricks to law. In my computer, I use jMemorize.
@inaki_agirre Thanks so much for the comment and for sharing about jMemorize. I’ll take a look and try to add a link in your comment so others can stop by as well. Very cool!
To get back to the question in your post, one efveftice use of paper flashcards I’ve found that is quicker than with software is to have a picture of an expression (like a cartoon face demonstrating sadness ) and on the back write various synonyms that could be used to describe that expression. See how many of the synonyms you can remember each time. You may have a standard, like 5 for each expression. That forces you to learn and remember 5 different useful synonyms. I struggle with organization and neatness, hence I rely on software rather than paper. I tend to lose the paper I make.
For me, the advantage of Anki and other software is that I have to type the word in, rather than simply looking at a definition and knowing the word (you have to set Anki to do this, it’s not the default setting). That way, I’m challenged to spell it correctly, and Anki shows me glaringly what my mistakes are each time.
I wanted to announce that I will be having a guest post in the coming days/weeks that will be written by an Anki expert and lover. Don’t want to short change Anki just because it wasn’t my thing. Looking forward to being able to share it with you.
To get back to the question in your post, one effective use of paper flashcards I’ve found that is quicker than with software is to have a picture of an expression (like a cartoon face demonstrating “sadness”) and on the back write various synonyms that could be used to describe that expression. See how many of the synonyms you can remember each time. You may have a standard, like 5 for each expression. That forces you to learn and remember 5 different useful synonyms.
I struggle with organization and neatness, hence I rely on software rather than paper. I tend to lose the paper I make.
Great advice, Aaron.
It’s definitely a good idea to use pictures instead of a translated word if possible.
With flashcards I like to use whole sentences/phrases in the target language. I find placing the word in the context of a sentence is better than using single words.
@mezzofanti Yes, pictures are better. They take more time though and my stick drawings are not always helpful. Is it worth the time to find high quality picks? Perhaps, and especially for objects. Context is good too and there are a few computer based flashcard programs that allow you to place words in context. LearnClick is one. Haven’t tried it out yet though.
@mezzofanti The Anki app on a smart device will let you take a photo right then and there and make a card of it. It allows you to capture the moment/information anywhere and anytime…
Great post, excellent strategy, much more active than simply staring at a card. As you work, you see evidence of your progress, which is so important when it comes to motivation. I’m reminded of my of my uncle, who also had a small stack of ever-changing index cards that he used as flashcards for language learning kept in his pocket. As mentioned below, smart phones are a good alternative nowadays.
@RachelP I wish everyone had an uncle who was learning another language in full view of the family. Very cool.
Interesting post. One year ago I liked a lot as well to use flashcards and ANKI but I changed idea in the last month. Now I think it is better to learn new words only by their sounds instead than by how they are written, by doing this you will learn to speak with a good pronunciation. Moreover, the brain doesn’t like isolate data it prefers connections, so I now think it is better to learn new words within sentences. Said this, one can do flashcard with sentences and use Anki with audio so they are still very valuable tools.
happy new year Aaron!
@Peter_creativityandlanguages I agree! I use Rosetta Stone for the audio and pictures, then from the accompanying PDFs, I make Anki cards: one set Japanese on front and English on back. Then I make a reverse set of same material. I find the sentences to be MUCH more effective than just words. Without the context, or the “hook” as I call it, trying to memorize a single word can be extremely difficult…
[...] If I hear a word I do not understand and it seems important, I’ll write it on a 2 X 2 card. I then write the definition on the back and the card goes into my daily review pile. [...]
I use Byki instead of Anki (I tried Anki once, but didn’t find it as user friendly as Byki). I create my Byki cards for French with English and Spanish translations (my first language is Spanish), as well as a Spanish transcription of what the French words would kind of sound like. I select a unique picture from the Web for every single word I’m learning, obviously something that will recall the word I’m trying to learn. I don’t really use Byki much for its spaced repetition algorithm, but for it’s ability to create such complete cards that I can create tests on (for multiple sets of cards). I also do recordings of the cards foreign language pronunciation (on a separate digital recorder) in the same order these cards would be presented by Byki in the regular Learn Cards mode. I then listen to my voice recordings over and over (when I’m driving, cooking, etc.) and the complete experience, cards, pictures, sound has increased my memorization experience thricefold! José
@Jose Carrillo Thanks for the comment Jose. I have looked at Byki and have it as a resource on the Getting Started Resource page, but I have never used it. Thanks for giving us a bit of an introduction. It sounds like a robust platform.
Great post Aaron. I have a tall stack of empty cards and I haven’t used it for my language learning. Now I will start to use them again
My sister uses Byki and she said it’s useful. I am just too lazy to try it – maybe I’ll try both Byki and the old fashioned cards… 
[...] the new words you are learning that you feel are important, so be sure and write them down on a flashcard for later review as [...]
[...] s); })(); Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politicsMonday’s post, Language Learning Tip: Using Paper Flashcards Effectivley was well recieved and hopefully a helpful article for all language learners who have used [...]
Try QUIZLET!!
Its awesomeness
great post
I’m gonna use it for studying
[...] (Extra Reading: Language Learning Tip: Using Paper Flashcards Effectively) [...]
I think vocabulary matters much more than grammar to use a language. The more vocabulary a learner knows how to use correctly the easier it is to convey a thought in a language in speaking, in writing and to understand the reading and listening content. I believe vocabulary is the most comprehensive and most difficult aspect of English for foreign learners to master thoroughly. It is a good idea to first concentrate on learning the most frequently used and therefore most important English vocabulary for learners’ practical real life needs.
Learners can improve their English vocabulary in the following ways:
a) when practising speaking on various topics;
b) when reading various materials in English on a multitude of topics;
c) when listening to audio and video recordings with diverse content.
I believe the best way to learn English vocabulary is by topics with explanations of meaning, examples of usage in sentences and with subsequent exercises.
It is possible to practise English vocabulary through exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.
1. Do ready-made lexical exercises from textbooks in vocabulary practice. Exercises in vocabulary practice can include dialogues, narrations (telling stories), thematic texts, questions and answers in various situations, discussions, talking points and expressing opinions and views on real life topics and issues, etc.
2. Learners can also master new English vocabulary by reading thematic texts (materials), first of all on everyday topics with important content, for example: Practical Tips and Advice to Make Everyday Life Easier and Better (practical solutions for everyday problems). Such self-help books on settling everyday matters are available at libraries, book stores and on the Internet. It is better for easier memorisation to write down unknown vocabulary in whole sentences. It is expedient for learners to practise telling the content of the texts that they have read.
3. A lot of vocabulary on every topic can be learned from thematic English dictionaries. Good thematic English dictionaries provide clear word usage explanations and also a few usage sentences for each word meaning, which is especially important. It is a good practice for learners to make up their own sentences with difficult vocabulary for potential use in daily life. Think about real life situations where and when that vocabulary can be used.
4. It is helpful for learners to have lists of difficult word meanings and of phrases (expressions) on every topic with usage sentences. By reading those ready-made vocabulary usage sentences many times if needed learners will gradually master the vocabulary. Longman Language Activator Dictionary (unique English Idea Production Dictionary) covers this issue thoroughly. It is useful for learners to make up their own sentences with that vocabulary, taking into consideration real life situations.
5. Thematic general English dictionaries combined with English synonym dictionaries are a valuable tool for mastering English vocabulary logically, comprehensively and intensively for real life needs of learners. English synonym dictionaries provide usage explanations and usage examples for words with similar meaning.
Summary: Thematic English reading materials can be combined with English phrase books, conversation books, thematic English dictionaries, English synonym dictionaries and vocabulary practice books (with lexical exercises) for comprehensive, logical and intensive learning of English vocabulary.
[...] (Extra Reading: Language Learning Tip: Using Paper Flashcards Effectively) [...]
[...] Language Learning Tip: Using Paper Flashcards Effectively [...]
[...] Extra Reading: Language Learning Tip: Use Paper Flashcards Effectively [...]
A great post. I tried Anki for my Spanish flashcards but quickly went back to paper flashcards because it was so much simpler. Nothing to turn on or worry about the charge running low. I just grab my current stack of cards when I leave the door. Like you I have various stacks for different subsets of the points that I’m interested in.
I’ve always supported learning and practicing set phrases in context. In my opinion vocabulary should be learned and practiced first through input (listening and reading), and then used through output (speaking and writing) on each real life topic. But vocabulary is a broad concept; it includes not only phrases, but also separate words, idioms, proverbs, sayings, etc.
My idea below may be important to you to improve your language materials.
As you know word combinations in speaking are unpredictable. There are different word collocations/phrases and synonyms to convey a thought in a language.
It’s possible to encompass in ready-made materials a wide variety of phrases for each conversation topic. It is a good idea to prepare a potential list of phrases with sentences on each conversation topic, for example fixed conversational phrases that do not require English grammar knowledge (greetings, forms of addressing a person, thanks, well-wishing, apology, agreeing, disagreeing, emotions, etc.). Practicing with such materials can help a learner easier choose the most appropriate word combinations to convey a thought. Multiple frequent reading of such sentences will gradually ensure firm memorization of vocabulary and contribute to developing good speaking skills.
By combining the most inclusive phrase books, conversation books, general English thematic dictionaries, software, audio and video aids and websites you can create the most practical and thorough content for mastering each conversation topic in English for all levels including a wide selection of ready-to-use phrases, vocabulary and sentences for daily use. Your own ready-made materials could be superior to (more helpful than) any conversation book or a phrase book in terms of useful comprehensive content and vocabulary.