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I recently started learning Japanese and "storing facts" using spaced repetition, and it's great for learning Hiragana / Katakana. It's also very useful for th

I recently started learning Japanese and "storing facts" using spaced repetition, and it's great for learning Hiragana / Katakana. It's also very useful for things like passphrases. Sometimes, you just need to memorize things.

namaria 2y ago
I have acquired several languages, and I can tell you that naive memorization is a poor proxy for language acquisition. The best way to acquire a language is to use it a lot, consume a lot and produce a lot of language. Memorizing words and grammar may feel like learning a language, but it's very inefficient compared to just consuming and producing language in a natural setting.
- gimmecoffee 2y ago
  But for the task of learning the letters, this does wonders. This is just a tiny part of learning the language, but it's a great tool for quickly learning letters and new words.
- gwervc 2y ago
  Research disagrees with you. Memorizing vocabulary list is one of the most efficient use of time for learning a language. Sure it's not sufficient alone, and not fun but it works. It's especially useful at the start when learning even a few hundred words makes a huge difference.
  - devjab 2y ago
    Which research? I know this is mainly related to Duolingo, and it’s in Danish, but outside of confidence, grammar and vocabulary there doesn’t seem to much benefit in memorising vocabulary lists in terms of actually learning a language. http://www.carstenbuus.com/da/00007-jagten-paa-det-graeske-sprog-kapitel-4.htm http://www.carstenbuus.com/da/00007-jagten-paa-det-graeske-s...
    - j16sdiz 2y ago
      (not the parent poster) https://www.academypublication.com/issues2/tpls/vol05/04/25.pdf https://www.academypublication.com/issues2/tpls/vol05/04/25.... > Abstract — There are disputes over the role of memorization in language learning. Memorized language, a mainstay of education for almost all of recorded history, was widely repudiated for suppressing creativity, understanding and enjoyment in learners. This paper aims at highlighting the fact that, despite these criticisms, memorization is a helpful strategy which can be employed by the learners and teachers in their process of language learning and teaching. It is discussed that memorization: 1) provides the learner with linguistic data; 2) is the first step to understanding; 3) enhances association in memory; 4) causes cognitive development as a learning strategy; 5) helps noticing; 6) provides rehearsal; 7) is especially helpful in early stages of learning. It is also pointed out that all these become possible when memorization is accompanied and complemented by other strategies and techniques.
    - vundercind 2y ago
      > but outside of confidence, grammar and vocabulary Just those, huh?
      - ianmcgowan 2y ago
        s/Romans/Duolingo/g
    - namaria 2y ago
      I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Acquisition of a second language is a very narrow field of research and to claim that there is a clear consensus on what works best is showing very little insight.

namaria 2y ago

I have acquired several languages, and I can tell you that naive memorization is a poor proxy for language acquisition. The best way to acquire a language is to use it a lot, consume a lot and produce a lot of language. Memorizing words and grammar may feel like learning a language, but it's very inefficient compared to just consuming and producing language in a natural setting.

gimmecoffee 2y ago
But for the task of learning the letters, this does wonders. This is just a tiny part of learning the language, but it's a great tool for quickly learning letters and new words.
gwervc 2y ago
Research disagrees with you. Memorizing vocabulary list is one of the most efficient use of time for learning a language. Sure it's not sufficient alone, and not fun but it works. It's especially useful at the start when learning even a few hundred words makes a huge difference.
- devjab 2y ago
  Which research? I know this is mainly related to Duolingo, and it’s in Danish, but outside of confidence, grammar and vocabulary there doesn’t seem to much benefit in memorising vocabulary lists in terms of actually learning a language. http://www.carstenbuus.com/da/00007-jagten-paa-det-graeske-sprog-kapitel-4.htm http://www.carstenbuus.com/da/00007-jagten-paa-det-graeske-s...
  - j16sdiz 2y ago
    (not the parent poster) https://www.academypublication.com/issues2/tpls/vol05/04/25.pdf https://www.academypublication.com/issues2/tpls/vol05/04/25.... > Abstract — There are disputes over the role of memorization in language learning. Memorized language, a mainstay of education for almost all of recorded history, was widely repudiated for suppressing creativity, understanding and enjoyment in learners. This paper aims at highlighting the fact that, despite these criticisms, memorization is a helpful strategy which can be employed by the learners and teachers in their process of language learning and teaching. It is discussed that memorization: 1) provides the learner with linguistic data; 2) is the first step to understanding; 3) enhances association in memory; 4) causes cognitive development as a learning strategy; 5) helps noticing; 6) provides rehearsal; 7) is especially helpful in early stages of learning. It is also pointed out that all these become possible when memorization is accompanied and complemented by other strategies and techniques.
  - vundercind 2y ago
    > but outside of confidence, grammar and vocabulary Just those, huh?
    - ianmcgowan 2y ago
      s/Romans/Duolingo/g
  - namaria 2y ago
    I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Acquisition of a second language is a very narrow field of research and to claim that there is a clear consensus on what works best is showing very little insight.