📑 Learning Vocabulary in Another Language

Spaced Repetition Softwares, flashcards and mnemonics

💬 Vocabulary

Growing your vocabulary in a new language not only helps when speaking but also when listening.

There are various opinions about which method is the best for learning and remembering vocabulary. Many people swear by spaced repetition systems (SRS) like Anki, while others prefer to avoid them.

I’ll share how I learn vocabulary in different languages and the resources/methods I’ve used or heard of.

1. Spaced Repetition

   1. Spaced Repetition Software (Memrise, Anki, JPDB, Pleco, Ylhýra & Kaards)

2. The Goldlist method

3. Mnemonics and Memory Palaces (Mandarin Blueprint & Wanikani)

Finding Vocabulary

Textbooks, courses and apps are places where you can find vocab. Most of the time vocab will be grouped into a theme or category. For example, you may learn about food-related vocabulary in a textbook lesson about visiting restaurants. For some people, this gives context to the words they are learning especially when there are dialogues and example sentences.

Since I didn’t use textbooks during most of my Mandarin language learning, I found vocab in the videos and shows I watched. Later when I started reading, I wrote down new words in a notebook or added them to various flashcard software.

Rembering and Recalling Vocab

To remember vocab I have used different methods and software. I will now share how my experiences using the following methods:

1. Spaced Repetition

   1. Spaced Repetition Software (Memrise, Anki, JPDB, Pleco, Ylhýra & Kaards)

2. The Goldlist method

3. Mnemonics and Memory Palaces (Mandarin Blueprint & Wanikani)

✅ Spaced Repetition

Common in language learning and study communities, spaced repetition is a learning technique that uses flashcards, either physical or digital, that are reviewed at specific intervals. These intervals are based on the forgetting curve so reviews occur just before you forget. If a card is forgotten, the repetition is reset.

⚙️ Spaced Repetition Software

Spaced repetition software is software that calculates the most optimal time for information to be reviewed and recalled. Using algorithms, the software will automatically show cards that are due. The user then grades the card on their ability to recall the information. Failed cards are reviewed more frequently while cards that are remembered have increased intervals and are reviewed further in the future.

SRS is commonly used in academic and language learning communities. While Anki is well-known, it is not the only SRS available for language learners. When I look for a new SRS app to use, I am most concerned with having high-quality audio recordings or the ability to add my own audio through websites like Forvo.

I will now share some apps/software I have used to learn vocabulary and sentences in my target languages.

1. Memrise

2. Anki - Criticisms, Sentence Mining & My Decks

3. JPDB (Japanese)

4. Pleco (Mandarin, Cantonese)

5. Ylhýra (Icelandic)

6. Kaards

Memrise

You may have expected me to start with Anki but Memrise was the first app that I used to learn vocabulary for Mandarin. Since then, I have used Memrise’s official Japanese, French, and Icelandic courses.

What Memrise has going for are the premade courses/decks. Each card has audio or video of a word or sentence. When reviewing each card, you are not only able to learn vocab but also improve your listening as you hear how real people speak naturally.

Anki

The ability to make Anki whatever you need it to be for you is what makes it a powerful tool. You’re either a fan of Anki or you completely hate it. I’m somewhere in the middle.

There have been comments made about the usefulness and effectiveness of Anki for learning vocabulary. Recently, a well-known polyglot, Luca Lampariello, shared why he doesn’t use anki to learn vocabulary and why he doesn't recommend anyone does (blog post, YouTube video).

It’s one thing not to use a certain method but recommending other people don’t (and instead use your own method) is a bit much. Luca states,

“I'm actually a huge fan of the concept of Spaced Repetition, and I use it all the time in my learning. 

What I do not do, though, is use Spaced Repetition software. I don't use Anki, Memrise, Supermemo, or anything like it. I never have.”¹

Luca then provides 5 reasons why we should not use Anki to learn vocabulary. While I see his perspective and agree with reason number 3 (reviewing old cards can become a chore) there are many ways to remedy the other reasons.

Lou, from

I heard from Lou

disagreed with Luca's other reasons for not using Anki. I share similar opinions with Lou even though I am not currently a consistent Anki user. I recommend you read Lou's post if you would like to hear about a positive perspective of Anki from an Anki user.

🎴 In defense of Anki, a response to Luca Lampariello

Now, how have I used Anki?

Early in my Mandarin journey, I wrote down new words, phrases or sentences in a notepad/notebook. I didn’t do much with the lists of words I created. When I found Anki, I decided it would be a great way for me to actually learn all the vocab I had been collecting. My list consisted of information I found in context through the shows I watched.

Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese vocab and phrases

Even though it has been years, I am still able to open up a notebook, read my list and remember exactly where a word or phrase came from. When reviewing in Anki, I am also able to recall this context which further helps me during my reviews.

Sentence Mining

After only focusing on individual words, I started using Anki to sentence mine. Sentence mining is when you create a card with an i+1 sentence. There’s a bit of research that goes along with this but to simplify it, an i+1 sentence consists of only 1 new word or concept. With the help of context and the sentence, you should be able to learn the new word more easily than if the sentence included multiple new words. Additionally, you are now learning sentences and how words fit together.

I often broke the i+1 “rule” because there were times I had more than 1 new word depending on the sentence.

Setting up Cards

Your cards don’t need to be fancy. As long as a card has the information you need in the front and the back, you’re good to go. My cards are basic and only contain the bare minimum.

For my sentence mining deck, I used Language Player to find videos where I could find audio of a sentence using a new word I wanted to learn. I then used ShareX to record the audio and add it to the back of my card along with the new word and sometimes, the English translation of the sentence. When I flip the card to the back, the sentence audio plays automatically.

I preferred to use shows I had already watched so I had additional context. By the time I went to review a card, I had probably already heard that example sentence 5 times which also added to the ease of learning.

JPDB

While similar to Anki, JPDB is specifically for learning Japanese. It not only has an SRS but many built-in decks based on textbooks, animes, mangas, and novels. Instead of spending time looking up every new word, you are likely able to find a deck of that anime you’re watching to review before or after watching.

If you prefer, you can also make your own deck by searching up words and saving them. Every card has audio, pitch accent, and example sentences. I enjoy the additional stats JPDB provides such as how many cards are known, in progress and new.

The only issue I have is that reviews can pile up quickly and you are unable to learn new cards unless you get your due vocab down to 0. There are a ton of settings to configure if you become too overwhelmed by due cards such as decreasing or increasing the review intervals.

Pleco

Pleco is a dictionary app that has a flashcard system add-on. This system uses spaced repetition which you can configure to your liking. Since I use Pleco as my main dictionary for Mandarin and Cantonese, reviewing cards is much simple in Pleco compared to transferring my vocab lists to another software.

Along with this, Pleco has other features such as an OCR and pdf/epub reader to help you when reading Mandarin or Cantonese. This also makes saving new vocab words much more effortless. Here are my tips and resources for reading in Mandarin.

Ylhýra

The Ylhýra website has an Icelandic flashcard-based vocabulary game that uses spaced repetition. The difference with Ylhýra is that you are unable to see the list of words except for the percentage of known words out of the total items.

Other spaced repetition-based tools give you detailed stats while Ylhýra is quite limited. While this can be a downside, I find that I’m not overwhelmed by the number of cards I have to review since I never know how many need to be reviewed.

Each session is 3 minutes long and you don’t have to complete a session. Thus, reviewing and learning is easy and convenient. Since many of the words and phrases are new to me, I write down the ones I find useful. This also helps me solidify what I’m learning and be more present instead of mindlessly flipping each card.

Kaards

Unlike the other tools mentioned earlier, Kaards is not free but you can try it out for free for 7 days. Kaards is a flashcard tool with an SRS. It’s relatively new which means there are always new updates, bug fixes and features being added. While decks are only available for German, you are still able to create your own flashcard decks in 50+ languages.

Kaards German decks and custom flashcard list

The one feature I like is the ability to type a word in one language and get a translation in another along with audio instantly., making the flashcard-making process a breeze. When reviewing your cards, you can also choose to see example sentences.

There are progress stats for each language so you can see your consistency over time and how many new cards you’ve learned.

So far I have been using Kaards to learn Icelandic by inputting words and sentences from my textbook to review. I can be lazy sometimes so being able to type d for the letter ð and p for þ makes creating my cards extremely efficient.

📝 The Goldlist Method

The Goldlist method involves diving a notebook into 4 sections. In the first section, you write the current date and 20 words or phrases you want to learn and their translations. For the next 13 days, you create a new 20-phrase list on a separate page without looking at any of the past lists. You will first test yourself on day 15. On that day you go back to your first list, cover the words in your TL and note which phrases you remembered. In the second section, you will then create a new list with only your incorrect answers. You’ll then test yourself in another 2 weeks and repeat the cycle for the other pages.

I mentioned using the Goldlist method in the post about my Language Dashboard on Notion. My process was slightly different than the original method by Lýdia Machová. In Notion I used the reminder feature to remind me to review any list of words I created every 2 weeks. I used a checkbox to keep track of the review cycles I had done and also marked each phrase as known or unknown.

In physical vocab notebooks, I would review a list of 10-20 and put a checkmark on the ones I got correct. I then came back and reviewed the words that didn’t have a checkmark and repeated the same steps every few days with new words.

🏡 Mnemoncis & Memory Palaces

Like spaced repetition, mnemonics are also a learning technique that aids in retaining information. A memory place refers to a location in your mind where you can save mnemonic images. For example, your house can be a memory palace and the different paths you take to rooms can be where your mnemonic images are located.

I personally have not given memory places/mnemonics a solid try but I have noticed this technique be recommended to learners of languages like Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. One course and a tool I can think of that utilizes mnemonics and memory places are Mandarin Blueprint and WaniKani.

Mandarin Blueprint

Mandarin Blueprint is a curriculum for people wanting to reach fluency in Mandarin. They call their mnemonic system the “Hanzi Movie Method” which is a core part of their curriculum. Memory places feel a bit confusing to me but if you’re interested, Mandarin Blueprint has several blog posts going over their Hanzi Movie Method. I have not used Mandarin Blueprint so I cannot give any opinions on the effectiveness of the course of the Hanzi Movie Method.

WankiKani

WaniKani is a flashcard tool for Japanese with SRS. I could’ve put WaniKani in the SRS section but I felt it made more sense here since mnemonics are an important part of their method. With the help of mnemonics, they say that you will waste less time and memorize/recall more.

I used WaniKani for the first time 2 years ago. Since it’s been a while, I forgot my password and the email I got to reset my email said,

“Perhaps a mnemonic for your new password will help?”

Clearly, mnemonics are a large part of WaniKani. The mnemonic aspect also explains why I only spent a few days using it. I already have knowledge of basic Kanji because of learning Mandarin. Having to go through learning Kanji I already knew by also coming up with mnemonics felt like it was making the process unnecessarily long.

If you like mnemonics or are familiar with Remembering the Kanji (RTK) or Rembering the Hanzi (RTH), you’ll probably enjoy using WaniKani or mnemonics to learn characters.

📑 Summary

When it comes to learning vocabulary, what matters is using the resource or tool that you can be consistent with. There is no one right tool or method. Find what works for you and stick with it.

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I’d like to know if you have any vocabulary learning methods that you have found helpful. Please share them if you do!

Also, what are your experiences using any of the methods or tools I mentioned?

Thanks for reading!

1. 5 Reasons Why I Don’t Use Anki (And Why You Shouldn’t Either) - https://www.lucalampariello.com/why-i-dont-use-anki/