Random repetition systems

http://www.lingq.com/

Spaced Repetition Systems are popular amongst language learners. I prefer random repetition and random learning.It ensures that I am doing what I like in language learning. That keeps me going. Mostly I use LingQ, of course.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• SRS
• random learning
• language learning
• LingQ

[Trakusenpai]

Steve, do you know of any random repetition systems out there? thanks

[lingosteve]

@Trakusenpai What I mean is that I do my flash carding on a random basis. So any SRS becomes random in that way, whether it is LingQ or Anki.

[rsherfan]

That being said, spaced repetition if not managed well (with, say, a computer-based system) can potentially be very very boring and this will have a very big negative impact. So far as to say that the benefits of SRS could be outweighed by the drop in attentiveness of the learner. But, if the management of the material and spacing is good and the learner is just as immersed / interested, ths SRS should produce stronger memories. How much stronger compared to random, not sure. No data...

[lingosteve]

@rsherfan Thanks Roy, and I understand this science. However, it is not obvious to me that encountering a word in a flash card review is as effective as encountering it in a meaningful context, while listening and reading. Furthermore, for the SRS to work based on the algorithm would seem to require that we review these terms regularly if not daily. Since I have over 30,000 saved terms in Russian along, that would be a lot of flash card review. Any comments?

[rsherfan]

Reinforcing the connection (and let it regress slightly) can increase the probability of it turning into a type II, which is stronger, longer lasting etc. Long story short blah blah blah eventually you go on to a type III which can basically sit in your mind without being "fired" for decades and still be fresh. Much like muscular training, a certain optimum number of "repetitions" can achieve stronger more lasting recollection with the fewest repetitions.

[lingosteve]

@rsherfan Thanks Roy, and I understand this science. However, it is not obvious to me that encountering a word in a flash card review is as effective as encountering it in a meaningful context, while listening and reading. Furthermore, for the SRS to work based on the algorithm would seem to require that we review these terms regularly if not daily. Since I have over 30,000 saved terms in Russian along, that would be a lot of flash card review. Any comments?

[acromel]

@lingosteve Yes, please. I'd be very interested in the method that you used. I'm most of the way through the Heisig method for kanji (I think Heisig has been mentioned before) but I plan on tackling Mandarin next so it may still be useful for that.

[lingosteve]

@acromel I don't know how Cody did it, but I learned 4,000 characters in Chinese in 8 months, mostly by reading and writing. I had to write an exam at the end where I translated newspaper editorials from English to Chinese, and wrote a diplomatic letter in Chinese for the British Foreign Service Exam (which I passed). I did not use SRS. I you want I can tell you what I did, or maybe I will put it in a video.

[bnrshdydvdrtrk]

Languages are stupid -- speak English, people!

[DrKojiin]

@Trakusenpai Try Quizlet dot come It is fun.

[Trakusenpai]

@lingosteve Oh I see, in my opinion your points are very interesting as I find SRSs very grueling and hard to keep up with on a daiy basis. you give great advice, cheers.

[IDtKw]

Muito prático.... BAcana!

[Shizaru2723]

10 minutes. I squeeze it in whenever I feel like it and have time on a given day. I certainly don't get around to it on some days, and it really doesn't upset the flow too much.

Even though I learn new words every day, my "work load" floats around 60-70 terms because older words gain more "space."

Long story short, I suppose it comes down to personal preference.

(Sorry for the confusing set of responses. I ran out of characters a few times...)

[Shizaru2723]

10 minutes. I squeeze it in whenever I feel like it and have time on a given day. I certainly don't get around to it on some days, and it really doesn't upset the flow too much.

Even though I learn new words every day, my "work load" floats around 60-70 terms because older words gain more "space."

Long story short, I suppose it comes down to personal preference.

(Sorry for the confusing responses)

[Shizaru2723]

Where studying vocabulary is a huge part of learning the language. SRS helps make this period of time efficient.

After reaching a point of fluency that would allow me to simply read books, write letters, or have conversations, I may very well reach a similar mind set that you have. I may prefer reading every now and then over studying flash cards.

For now, though, flash cards are my friends, and I use SRS to help me study in an efficient manner. I simply run through 60-70 terms a day in about

[Shizaru2723]

@lingosteve

At first, yes, you must study regularly. But in order to get to a "do whatever you want" stage, reading for a few days, listening for a few days, etc... Don't you need to build a vocabulary base first? You mention you, at first, studied Chinese characters religiously when you began to learn the language.

Sure, when someone hits a couple thousand vocabulary words, the necessity to learn more begins to disappear. There's a good stretch towards the beginning of learning a language...