5 ms·

Based on my own experience, a caveat is that you need to be applying what you're learning outside of flashcards. Otherwise, it's like your brain has different m

Based on my own experience, a caveat is that you need to be applying what you're learning outside of flashcards. Otherwise, it's like your brain has different memory banks for different contexts, and you'll remember everything when using your flashcards, but a real-world scenario will come up and you'll forget. I went from zero Japanese to JLPT N2 in just a few years and I attribute a great deal of that to Anki. However, I was also frequently talking in Japanese, and reading/writing in Japanese. I was constantly using what I was learning. Maybe an analogy is, Anki is like steroids, but you still need to go to the gym. :P I don't study Japanese at all anymore and I have very little exposure to the language. But I still do my flashcards. I've noticed my recall is excellent when doing the flashcards, but if I see some Japanese written on a billboard, or think to myself "how do I say this again...", I struggle to recall even things that are in my flashcard packs.

bayesian_horse 4y ago
In my opinion the memorization (with whatever method) gets you started. There is no good replacement, and in that phase any other learning activities really aren't as important. Only when memorization has laid the basic foundation does it make sense to spend more time to read and write in the new language. In my opinion reading is the most efficient activity at higher levels.
- wodenokoto 4y ago
  I disagree. Even at the early stages you should be reading simple sentences with words you just learned and you should be creating sentences with structures you just learned.
  - bayesian_horse 4y ago
    I didn't say you shouldn't read simple sentences or do other activities. Variety is useful. I said early on the most efficient use of your time is memorization of words and maybe grammar. Duolingo does that well, in my opinion. It doesn't do the usual flashcard stuff, but it does favor repetition and you can practice speaking and listening from the first time.

bayesian_horse 4y ago

In my opinion the memorization (with whatever method) gets you started. There is no good replacement, and in that phase any other learning activities really aren't as important. Only when memorization has laid the basic foundation does it make sense to spend more time to read and write in the new language. In my opinion reading is the most efficient activity at higher levels.

wodenokoto 4y ago
I disagree. Even at the early stages you should be reading simple sentences with words you just learned and you should be creating sentences with structures you just learned.
- bayesian_horse 4y ago
  I didn't say you shouldn't read simple sentences or do other activities. Variety is useful. I said early on the most efficient use of your time is memorization of words and maybe grammar. Duolingo does that well, in my opinion. It doesn't do the usual flashcard stuff, but it does favor repetition and you can practice speaking and listening from the first time.