Hello Anki
The other day, some Language Geek mentioned switching to a new flashcard program, Anki. It's a pretty nice program, with two great things going for it. And these two things go to the heart of some big problems language learners get into:
1. Stop relearning what you already know! Too often, when getting started with a language, there is the temptation to keep studying something that you've already learned because you're not 100% confident about it but it feels good to fuss with something you're 90% positive about. The other day, I got a flashcard set (Accent on Iraq) and started flipping through it. Boy do I know the first four cards (30 or 40 words and phrases)! And I keep meaning to get out another card, but I'm not sure I'm ready to file away the first and I'm not sure how many cards I want to carry around.
A lot of language learners keep reviewing chapter 1, lesson 1 or track 1 until they know it perfectly, and by the time they get to chapter 4, lesson 4 or track 4, they wonder if they're ever going to really get anywhere with the language. With a good spaced-interval flashcard program (one that brings up your weak areas often and your strong spots only every few days) you can't fool yourself about how you're doing, either by going too fast without learning or going too slowly without truly pushing forward. Anki and similar programs keep you on task.
2. You do have to study, and that means finding the time. The second great thing about Anki is that you can sync with an online account so that you can practice anywhere you can get an internet connection. Physical flashcards are nice, but you have to carry them and organize them. And you have to physically pull them out of your pocket and put them back in. It doesn't sound like much, of course, but an awful lot of people who try it get bogged down.
Anki, sitting there one the internet, can be pulled up while you're waiting for a call back, minimized when the call actually comes, and given back the focus the next time you've got a minute or two. It really does provide a way to use pointless surfing time on actual language learning.
The Language Geek already wrote a pretty good plug for the program, so I'll leave off here except to remind that whatever your language program/learning plans, you can only make progress by working on the things that still give you trouble while moving forward from those that you have mastered, and that can only happen if you make time to do the learning in the first place. So however you're studying and whatever you're studying, make sure 1) that you're really moving forward and learning and 2) that you find an approach that fits into your real schedule.
Update: Having used Anki a few more days, I'm even more pleased with the ability to sync from computer to web to computer. If you've had bad luck with online or computer flashcard systems before, this really is worth a look.
1. Stop relearning what you already know! Too often, when getting started with a language, there is the temptation to keep studying something that you've already learned because you're not 100% confident about it but it feels good to fuss with something you're 90% positive about. The other day, I got a flashcard set (Accent on Iraq) and started flipping through it. Boy do I know the first four cards (30 or 40 words and phrases)! And I keep meaning to get out another card, but I'm not sure I'm ready to file away the first and I'm not sure how many cards I want to carry around.
A lot of language learners keep reviewing chapter 1, lesson 1 or track 1 until they know it perfectly, and by the time they get to chapter 4, lesson 4 or track 4, they wonder if they're ever going to really get anywhere with the language. With a good spaced-interval flashcard program (one that brings up your weak areas often and your strong spots only every few days) you can't fool yourself about how you're doing, either by going too fast without learning or going too slowly without truly pushing forward. Anki and similar programs keep you on task.
2. You do have to study, and that means finding the time. The second great thing about Anki is that you can sync with an online account so that you can practice anywhere you can get an internet connection. Physical flashcards are nice, but you have to carry them and organize them. And you have to physically pull them out of your pocket and put them back in. It doesn't sound like much, of course, but an awful lot of people who try it get bogged down.
Anki, sitting there one the internet, can be pulled up while you're waiting for a call back, minimized when the call actually comes, and given back the focus the next time you've got a minute or two. It really does provide a way to use pointless surfing time on actual language learning.
The Language Geek already wrote a pretty good plug for the program, so I'll leave off here except to remind that whatever your language program/learning plans, you can only make progress by working on the things that still give you trouble while moving forward from those that you have mastered, and that can only happen if you make time to do the learning in the first place. So however you're studying and whatever you're studying, make sure 1) that you're really moving forward and learning and 2) that you find an approach that fits into your real schedule.
Update: Having used Anki a few more days, I'm even more pleased with the ability to sync from computer to web to computer. If you've had bad luck with online or computer flashcard systems before, this really is worth a look.
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